Three perspectives on the Arctic: an interdisciplinary collaboration in Cambridge Bay

In February 2026, the Inuit community of Iqaluktuuttiaq (Cambridge Bay), Nunavut, became the convergence point for three distinct yet complementary research trajectories from Université de Sherbrooke members: Professor Céline Verchère is a sociologist by training and a specialist in responsible innovation; Professor Frédéric Bouchard is a geologist by training and a permafrost specialist; and Loek Pascaud is a doctoral candidate in applied geomatics. This trio formed an unconventional interdisciplinary team within the Northern research landscape.

This collaboration stems from a series of attempts since 2021 between Professor Bouchard and Professor Verchère to develop a joint project. "For the past few years, I have been trying to better understand the movements specific to the Earth on which humans walk," explains Pre Verchère, describing his intellectual evolution towards a sociology of attachments to the territory. This approach resonates with the evolution of Professor Bouchard, who, after years of research in natural sciences, recognizes the importance of including communities in defining research objectives: “We said to ourselves, with Loek last year: ‘Couldn’t we try to include more people from the community in our thinking about our research objectives?’,” he explains.

The human dimension 

The three researchers share a common conviction: the importance of the human element in Northern research. Loek Pascaud observes that “people come here for very short stays, one or two weeks, primarily to collect samples in the field, on the land, and less frequently to interact with the people.”

This echoes Professor Bouchard’s experience, who, from his very first missions to Nunavik, was deeply affected by his encounters with the Inuit communities: “I was transported to another world, with a different history, different ways of doing things, a different approach to time, and a different relationship with the landscape, especially with the land.”

The interdisciplinary dimension

The overall project began to take shape this winter. Its ultimate goal is to develop an observatory vision that combines various areas of expertise: satellite imagery, permafrost coring to measure ice content, the study of communities' territorial representations, and environmental monitoring, in conjunction with sensors developed at Université de Sherbrooke (for example, water quality analysis). This approach addresses local concerns regarding permafrost degradation and its impacts on aquatic ecosystems, particularly the potential release of heavy metals and mercury.

The group's general approach is structured around three main axes that transcend disciplinary boundaries. The first axis concerns the dialogue between the humanities and Earth sciences through the map as a boundary object. The second axis incorporates reflection on the value and dissemination of research to communities, including issues of open science and open data. The third focuses on the responsible development of environmental monitoring technologies, questioning the responsible use of data collection.

This approach is part of a broader movement toward participatory and collaborative science, where communities are involved at various stages of the research process: before, during, and after scientific activities. It also responds to a growing desire, particularly in Northern contexts, to move beyond research practices historically conceived outside of communities and with limited local participation.

For more information:
https://keolp.github.io/unfrozen-ground-murky-waters/