FOREWORD

The Northern Scientific Training Program (NSTP) is managed by the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND) as part of its mandate to foster science and technology in the Canadian North. The Program's aim is to promote interest in northern studies, and provide opportunities for advanced and graduate students to obtain experience and professional training in the North.

This Annual Report provides an overview of Program activities, and a summary of the support for northern studies allocated to Canadian universities during 2003-2004. Please note that the information contained in the Annual Report does not provide details on the specific criteria employed in awarding training funds.

The report also summarizes the major events that shaped the NSTP in 2003. For example, the NSTP Secretariat attended the ACUNS Annual General Meeting and the National Student Conference on Northern Studies, which took place in Edmonton, October 24-26, 2003.

In conclusion, I would like to thank the Program’s Committee for their dedication and thoroughness during the Annual NSTP Allocation meeting held in February. Moreover, special recognition should be given to the NSTP Secretariat staff. Accordingly, I would like to thank Ms. Sheilagh Murphy, Ms. Rhonda Turner, and Ms. Nathalie Robillard for their sustained hard work.

Steve Cumbaa
Chairperson
Northern Scientific Training
Program Committee

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The purpose of the Northern Scientific Training Program (NSTP) is to support Canadian universities in providing training that gives advanced and graduate students the opportunity to gain professional experience in the Canadian North and encourages them to develop a commitment to northern work. The Program objective is to increase the number of graduate and other advanced students within Canadian universities who have specialized in some aspects of northern studies and who have northern research experience.

The Program achieves its objectives by encouraging the formation of multi-disciplinary focal points for northern studies within Canadian universities and providing supplementary financial assistance to universities for students to help offset the high cost of specialized studies in the North. This assistance covers costs attributable to a northern research project which involves supervised field experience in the Canadian North. The NSTP also considers applications from students interested in undertaking research in other circumpolar countries (i.e. Greenland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia and Alaska). It is an assistance program and because of its limited funds it cannot provide employment for students or on-going support in the form of general scholarships. NSTP funds must be used to defray transportation costs, living expenses, freight costs and interpreter fees encountered when carrying out the fieldwork portion of their research projects.

PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION

The NSTP is managed by the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. An intergovernmental committee is responsible for reviewing the applications and ensuring the effective use of funds provided to the universities by the Program. The participating universities are responsible for disbursing the funds to awarded to assist advanced students in gaining supervised northern experience and training in the North.

The NSTP Committee makes major Program policy decisions and all granting decisions. The members are appointed by the Deputy Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. Participating universities are invited to help set direction for the Program at the annual meeting of the Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies (ACUNS), during visits to individual universities by the Program Secretariat, and on other occasions. This process facilitates annual Program refinements in response to changing needs and evolving circumstances.