Hudson bay coast northern field school

Student Projects

Students will work in groups or individiually to develop the fundamental skills of designing and implementing a research project from the stage of an idea to writing up results, including: planning fieldwork, trouble-shooting issues, and collecting, entering, and analyzing data.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Components

A research proposal must be submitted prior to the program start date. The proposal includes a five page introduction that provides the important context for the proposed study, including an overview of the theory that forms the basis of the work. The research plan should also contain 2-4 pages describing the methods of the proposed research including details on proposed statistical analysis techniques, a detailed field plan for conducting the work, and a list of all required equipment.

Fieldwork will be conducted during the course with the assistance of your fellow classmates if needed. You are expected to pitch in when required, as some students will collect their data in town, while others will collect their data in Wapusk. All data analysis and write-up is done during the field program.

You will complete a final written report approximately 20 pages in length. Each student's research projects and personal reflections will then be compiled into a single report by the course instructors and submitted to Parks Canada. Past reports can be viewed HERE.

Students will present their findings twice. The first presentation will be a technical presentation to the class where each group shares their detailed results, and the second presentation is a single seamless, well-rehearsed and professionally formatted presentation for Parks Canada staff and the local community. If you wish to present your findings at a conference or in a journal after the completion of the course, we are happy to assist you with this.

 

Further details can be found in the course syllabuses for the

undergraduate and graduate courses, and in the program guide.

 

Topics

Research topics should lie in one of the key areas of the program.

There is considerable opportunity to tailor these areas to student

interests each year. Most projects are related to:

                 Wildlife-habitat relationships

                 Structure and dynamics of vegetation

                 Wildlife management

                 Protected areas management

                 Ecotourism benefits and impacts

                 Traditional ecological knowledge and local knowledge

We are happy to help you take your interests and turn it into a

project that fits in with the program's objectives and resources. Just ask!

 

Examples from Previous Years

The effect of predator calls on caribou behaviour
Ecological communities in Wapusk National Park: a field guide and workbook

Water use and efficiency at Nester One field camp

Perceptions of polar bears and waste management in Churchill, Manitoba: the buffet is closed

The carbon footprint of helicopter use in Wapusk

Lichen communities as indicators of depth to permafrost

Environmental and social impacts of dogs in Churchill, Manitoba

Understanding the daily and seasonal trends of arctic wolves in Wapusk National Park through the use of trail cameras

Assessing change in vegetation cover of arctic fox dens in Wapusk National Park

A walk in the park: using GIS to develop pathways in Wapusk National Park

Local perspectives on oil spill risk in Churchill, Manitoba

Significance of the berry picking tradition to Churchill locals and their observations of change

Trapping methods for Arthropoda in Wapusk National Park, Manitoba

Evaluating the success of the eastern prairie population Canada goose hatch in Wapusk National Park, 2015