Students on Ice

Students on Ice (SOI) inspires and empowers youth to become leaders for a sustainable future by connecting them to nature and to the knowledge, people, and perspectives that spark meaningful change. Through expeditions in the Arctic, Antarctic, and beyond, young people learn directly from Elders, cultural knowledge keepers, scientists, artists, and historians. They explore the intersections of Indigenous knowledge and Western science, known as Two-Eyed Seeing, while deepening their understanding of climate change, marine conservation, and the responsibility to protect fragile ecosystems.

This year marked the first partnership between Kensington and SOI, which funded a full scholarship for Chelsea, a youth from Lae, Papua New Guinea, to join the Nunavut to Kalaallit Nunaat Expedition. A student of fisheries and marine sciences, Chelsea is deeply committed to blending traditional Indigenous knowledge with scientific practice to promote sustainable resource use—an approach she brings to community projects focused on preserving traditional fishing methods in the face of climate change.

The expedition brought together 20 international youth, educators, and SOI staff for a 12-day cross-cultural learning journey from Ottawa to Iqaluit in Canada and across to Greenland. Participants travelled by ship and on land, visiting communities, cultural sites, and ecologically significant areas. They took part in workshops, hands-on research activities, and discussions led by a multidisciplinary team, contributing to fieldwork in marine biology, botany, and marine protected areas. Youth shared their own regional experiences and compared marine management strategies, enriching a global conversation on ocean stewardship.