Profile

My name is Greg, and I am a 2nd year PhD candidate studying at the University of Edinburgh. My thesis work focuses on arctic heatwaves and how to quantify them, as well as studying heatwaves impacts on the terrestrial Arctic. I use remote sensing data to detect heatwaves from space, but my PhD project also has some field component as I will be spending August 2025 in Yukon territory to study the impact of extreme temperatures on Arctic vegetation.

My ASSW 2025

The ICARP IV 2025 was my first ever conference, and it was especially important to me because I had the opportunity to present some of my first results as I was accepted for the poster session that took place during the conference week. Designing a poster was a challenging experience that taught me a lot about how to present results in a dynamic and telling manner. Furthermore, this opportunity allowed me to make fruitful encounters, as researchers and scientists engaged in precious conversations about my work. These interactions were essential and gave me valuable feedback and advice on my work. Furthermore, this allowed me to hear about the latest work done in Arctic research, both in my field (environmental remote sensing), but also in areas of work that I do not have in my own research, such as Indigenous knowledge and Indigenous cooperation, biology and atmospheric research. Overall, the Arctic Summit was the perfect balance between relevant talks for my area of work, and broadening my perspective on the current state of the Arctic and its major challenges. Finally, this summit was the occasion for me to meet some collaborators who are based in Canada, making it possible for us to meet in Boulder and bringing together for a common purpose.

Impact of UArctic grant

The funding I received from UArctic made all this travel possible. It therefore played a crucial role in my PhD in general, allowing me to present my results for the very first time, meeting the entire Arctic research community and making the most of my PhD experience. Being in person in Boulder made a real difference, as I managed to interact with numerous people that gave me relevant feedback on my project, and how to make my work as relevant as possible. This would have not been possible if I hadn’t been funded by UArctic to go in person to the ICARP IV summit. I am very grateful for the trust that was given to me, and the impact of this opportunity will be reflected by the improved quality of my future work.

This student participation opportunity was made possible by Global Affairs Canada.