University of Alberta's Dr. Peter Kershaw recognized for his research on the environmental impacts of climate change in the Arctic.

Cambridge, MA - With polar ice caps shrinking and glaciers receding, climate change is at the forefront of public environmental concerns. Dr. Peter Kershaw, a researcher at University of Alberta, is exploring the effects of climate change on the Arctic environment, where the impacts stand to be most dramatic.

Kershaw was awarded the Scientist of the Year Award at Earthwatch Institute's Annual Conference in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on November 4. The principal investigator of Earthwatch's Climate Change at the Arctic's Edge project was recognized for the importance of his findings and the positive role he plays in including "citizen scientists" in cutting-edge research.

"Peter Kershaw is the kind of scientist who makes their subject come alive," said Dr. Marie Studer, chief science officer at Earthwatch. "He is always eager to share every nuance of his research with Earthwatch volunteers so they can become better global citizens. His research on the Arctic environment provides important data to understand the implications of climate change for natural and human systems"

Kershaw's research focuses on environmental impacts of climate change in Churchill, Manitoba, and the Mackenzie Mountains, Northwest Territories, where he conducts studies on winter snowpack and permafrost, or permanently frozen peat. His data, collected with the help of Earthwatch volunteers, indicate that permafrost is degrading, or melting at a rate of approximately 1 percent per year, comparable to findings of other scientists in circumpolar countries.

"With almost a quarter of the Earth's landmass affected by permafrost, there are dire implications for everything from pipelines to hydroelectric dams to coastal communities and transport corridors," said Kershaw. "Add to this the impact on northern ecology-enhanced nutrient cycling, treeline migration, polar bear denning sites, etc. and we have a very ‘interesting' story that will probably play out in our lifetime."

In addition to these direct impacts, the thawing of frozen peatlands stands to release vast stores of carbon in the form of carbon dioxide and methane, greenhouse gasses that will further speed the process of global warming.

The 2005 Earthwatch Institute Annual Conference was attended by hundreds of members of the public, who gained an intimate knowledge of the work of 140 Earthwatch-supported scientists through lectures and poster sessions. The theme of the conference, "Celebrating Citizen Scientists" was corroborated by keynote speaker Dr. Edward O. Wilson, who commended attendees for their part in conserving biodiversity.

"Only 10 percent of different kinds of organisms on Earth are known. We need help not just to discover, but to build information on each one," said Wilson, a renowned Harvard evolutionary biologist, in an interview with Earthwatch. "The most significant thing a layperson can do to turn around the loss of biodiversity is to become part of the citizen scientist movement...You're organization is a big part of the future."

Earthwatch Scientist of the Year Peter Kershaw agreed that Earthwatch volunteers have much to offer. "I learn a lot from team members," said Kershaw. "Their insightful questions always give me pause and can force me to reconsider ideas I take for granted. I hear new things and am richer for the experience."

Earthwatch Institute is an international nonprofit organization that supports scientific field research by offering members of the public opportunities to work alongside leading field scientists and researchers. Earthwatch's mission is to engage people worldwide in scientific field research and education and promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment.

Information about Earthwatch Institute
Earthwatch Institute ( www.earthwatch.org ) is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1971 which supports scientific field research worldwide by offering members of the public unique opportunities to work alongside leading field scientists and researchers. The Institute's mission is to promote sustainable conservation of our natural resources and cultural heritage by creating partnerships between scientists, educators, and the general public.