Chris Burn awarded International Prize

Carleton University is pleased to announce that Christopher Burn, who holds an NSERC Northern Research Chair at the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, has been awarded the PPP Prize for Excellence in Permafrost and Periglacial Research for 2012. This unique award is the premier international award for excellence in geocryology and is given just once every four years.

The official announcement was made at the 10th International Conference on Permafrost in Salekhard on June 22, 2012. The conference is organized by the Russian Academy of Sciences on behalf of the International Permafrost Association.

“It is extremely gratifying to have the research program in permafrost at Carleton recognized in this way, because we have a remarkable group of graduate students and alumni, all of whom are working in northern Canada, applying their training to the management and development of the North,” said Burn. “While the award recognizes an individual, we all work in a community, and I am truly indebted to the students who work so hard.”

Permafrost and Periglacial Processes is the only journal committed solely to reporting research on permafrost. Other journals include permafrost, but are not dedicated to the subject. Permafrost research has become increasingly important as the polar regions respond to the effects of climate change.

Recently, Burn also visited Whitehorse, Yukon to launch the book Herschel Island Qikiqtaryuk – A Natural and Cultural History of Yukon’s Arctic Island, which he edited. Almost 200 people were in attendance, including Premier Darrell Pasloski and three cabinet members.