Join the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History and the Consulate General of Canada at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 17 at the CU-Boulder Visual Arts Complex, room 1B20 (lower level), 1085 18th St., for a co-hosted discussion with keynote speaker Ian Stirling, Ph.D., adjunct professor University of Alberta and Canadian polar bear and climate change expert.
In his talk Stirling will emphasize how Arctic climate change is impacting polar bears, the keystone species of the north. During his lecture, "Insights into the Natural History of Polar Bears and the Significance of Climate Warming," Stirling will present startling facts along with stunning Arctic photos. His concern is that climate warming is causing significant changes to the distribution and availability of sea ice at critical times of the year, times when polar bears need these frozen features as platforms to hunt marine mammals—their main food supply.
Stirling, an adjunct professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta, will share his research highlighting the substantial negative effects of ice loss on polar bears, as well as the seals they depend on for food. These same climate change effects have been documented in Western Hudson Bay and the Southern Beaufort Sea in Canada, and are currently being documented in Svalbard—an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, constituting the northernmost part of Norway. Similar observations will likely follow in other Arctic populations, states Stirling, who will be available for a book signing following the lecture.
“The United States is Canada’s premier partner in the Arctic, and joint efforts to monitor the environment and resource development are an increasingly important element of our collaboration in this region,” said Marcy Grossman, Consul General of Canada in Denver. “As Canada assumes chairmanship of the Arctic Council next month, we hope to continue working together on responsible Arctic resource development, development for aboriginal people of the North, safe Arctic shipping and sustainable circumpolar communities.”
Boulder already has a strong connection to the Arctic. In April 2012, more than 40 Boulder-area scientists from CU, NOAA, NCAR and other organizations, traveled to Montreal in Quebec, Canada, to present at the International Polar Year (IPY) conference—the largest scientific program of Arctic and Antarctic research to date. More than 2,000 people from around the world attended the event helping to improve understanding of the poles and their linkages to global issues.
Stirling’s talk is part of a series of events that will be held on the CU-Boulder campus during Arctic Awareness Week, April 13 – 20, including:
• Saturday, April 13, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Awesome Arctic Family Day: Hands-on science and art activities at University of Colorado Museum of Natural History
• Tuesday, April 16, 5:30 to 7 p.m. – Chasing Ice—screening of award-winning documentary: Introduction and Q&A with W. Tad Pfeffer, Ph.D (featured in film) at University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, Paleontology Hall—(Note: Seating is limited)
• Wednesday, April 17, 6:30 to 8 p.m. – Keynote presented by Ian Stirling, Ph.D, Adjunct Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta: Insights into Natural History of Polar Bears & Significance of Climate Change, at CU Visual Arts Complex, Room 1B20 (Lower Level), 1085 18th St.
• Ongoing, April 13 – 20 – Arctic Environments: Past and Present: Black and white photos of today’s Arctic glaciers, by INSTAAR Glaciologist W. Tad Pfeffer and a fossil display of an ancient tropical Arctic environment at University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, BioLounge/
For further information, call 303-492-6892 or visit cumuseum.colorado.edu.
Background:
The Consulate General of Canada in Denver represents the Government of Canada in the five-state Rocky Mountain region of Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Utah and Wyoming. Areas of operation include Trade & Investment; Political, Economic Relations & Public Affairs; and Consular Services. For all press inquiries, contact Ladan Amirazizi, Program Manager, at 303-881-6978 (cell) or ladan.amirazizi@international.gc.ca. For more information on Canada’s work on international Arctic issues, please see Canada and the Circumpolar World.
The Arctic Council is a leading intergovernmental forum where Canada advances its Arctic foreign policy and national interests as outlined in its Northern Strategy. The council was set up to promote cooperation and coordination among the Arctic states, in consultation with the Arctic’s Indigenous peoples, on common Arctic issues.