International NSERC CREATE on the processes and impacts of climate change in the North Atlantic Ocean and the Canadian Arctic (ArcTrain)

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The proposal for the international training program "Processes and impacts of climate change in the North Atlantic Ocean and the Canadian Arctic"(ArcTrain) has been designed with the aim to train a new generation of scientists for addressing complex issues related to climate change in the Arctic and subarctic. In this domain, research and training of highly qualified personnel require access to front-line science and dedicated infrastructure for high-performance computing, remote-sensing observation, remote field-work and oceanographic expeditions, in addition to multidisciplinary expertise in geosciences, biology, physics and chemistry. Hence the monitoring, modelling and prediction of changes at the ice-ocean-land interfaces require partnership and strong group efforts at the international level. Here, building on existing collaborations, it is proposed to develop and formalize an international research training network composed of a main node in Germany, at the Centre for Marine Sciences MARUM of the University of Bremen, with a consortium of eight Canadian institutions coordinated from the GEOTOP at the Université du Québec à Montréal. The ArcTrain proposal relies on its international components but also on interdisciplinary training. To complement doctoral training on topics defined at the forefront of research in ice-ocean dynamics, ArcTrain aims at developing professional skills through a number of activities: (a) Three training workshops, one on climate-ice-ocean modelling and proxy data treatment and interpretation, one on fieldwork skills in the eastern Canadian Arctic, and one to address socio-political aspects of climate change in Arctic and subarctic areas; (b) Participation in a research expedition on a Canadian or German ship, either for a "floating university" summer school or as part of an expedition organized within the program; (c) 4-12 months residency in a Canadian or German partner institution. The long term goal of ArcTrain is to implement a Canadian-based international school for graduate studies in the domain of ice-ocean dynamics in order to help with forecasting, to foster scientific understanding that will inform policy, and to contribute to sustainable development of the Arctic and subarctic realm.