Yukon Research Centre
The Yukon Research Centre (YRC) hosts a number of programs and services with the common goal to develop collaborative research, innovation and outreach that meet the needs of northerners.
There are six key programs that operate under the YRC at Yukon College: Cold Climate Innovation, Technology Innovation, Northern Climate Exchange, Science Adventures, Resources and Sustainable Development in the Arctic, and Social Economy Research Network of Northern Canada.
YRC provides a number of services supporting research and innovation. These services include: research funding, laboratory space, support space, a residence for researchers, and logistics support.
Featured Projects & News
Thursday, May 31, 2012
News Release
CANNOR SUPPORTS COMMERCIALIZATION OF COLD CLIMATE RESEARCH IN YUKON
Whitehorse, Yukon (May 31, 2012) –The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) and Minister of Health today announced that the Yukon Research Centre will move forward with four cold climate research projects that have potential to stimulate economic development.
“The Government of Canada is committed to supporting a strong and diversified northern economy,” said Minister Aglukkaq. “The commercialization of these Yukon projects has tremendous potential to create new business and export opportunities for innovative Yukon businesses.”
“Support for these projects will enable Cold Climate Innovation to work with local businesses to commercialize their innovative ideas,” said Yukon Member of Parliament Ryan Leef. “This investment in research will create opportunities for economic diversification of the territorial economy while building its scientific capacity.”
”All four of these projects have great potential to stimulate the local economy by developing a local workforce,” said Stephen Mooney, Director of Cold Climate Innovation. “With the exception of the Plastics to Oil machine, these innovations are made by and for Yukoners with the intent to export them globally.”
The Yukon Research Centre’s Cold Climate Innovation will use CanNor funding to advance four research projects to the commercialization stage. The four projects are: Dual Frequency Ice Penetrating Radar, Drilling Hot Water Supply Pump, Waste Plastic to Oil and a Plant-Based Inks project.
This investment is funded by CanNor’s Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development (SINED) program, which focuses on long-term economic growth, economic diversification and capacity-building in all three territories.
SINED is one of several economic development programs within CanNor. CanNor is responsible for coordinating and delivering Canada’s economic development across the North, and for related policy development, research and advocacy.
For copies of CanNor news releases, visit: http://www.cannor.gc.ca.
Please visit these web sites to learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan and Canada’s Northern Strategy.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
The new 2012 Yukon Revegetation Manual (PDF 52 MB) is now available online. This manual describes methods for planning and implementing revegetation projects in Yukon. It takes a practical approach based on experience with various methodologies and plant species that have proven to be successful in the territory over the past three decades. The Manual was designed to address a range of revegetation sites and applications, from borrow pits and mine sites, to highway right-of-ways, transmission lines and pipeline corridors.
The Yukon Revegetation Manual was written as an update of Guidelines for Reclamation/Revegetation in the Yukon published in 1993 (Vol. 1) and 1996 (Vol. 2).
Since the 1993 guidelines were written, a number of plant species it recommended have turned out to be commercially unavailable, while others were ineffective in Yukon conditions and a few have turned out to be invasive. The current Manual uses a more site-specific approach because experience has shown that the geographic location of a revegetation project in Yukon is less critical than other aspects of the site, such as slope, elevation, soil fertility, soil moisture, soil organic content and level of disturbance and it takes a “how-to” approach by explaining methods and equipment in detail.
The manual is complete and ready to use. It is being released as a beta version to allow it to be used and critiqued over the summer by client groups with any comments due in August. A final version will then be released. Comments can be submitted to revegmanual@yukoncollege.yk.ca.
Whitehorse - Three grade seven students from Whitehorse will compete against 500 other young scientists from across Canada in Charlottetown next week. They will showcase their scientific knowledge at the 51st annual Canada Wide Science Fair (CWSF) taking place at the University of Prince Edward Island from May 12 to 19.
The Yukon students were the top three winners at the Yukon/Stikine Regional Science Fair this past December. The regional fair saw competitors from grades four to seven competing. The national fair is for young scientists from grades seven to twelve.
The three Yukon scientists and their projects competing in the Junior Division are:
• Jacob Newkirk, Grade 7 at Christ the King Elementary “Myth-Busting Mouth Guards”
• Pelly Vincent Braun, Grade 7 at Golden Horn Elementary “iPod Hydro Charger”
• Alyssa Bunce, Grade 7 at Christ the King Elementary School “The Placebo Effect?”
Jacob, Pelly and Alyssa have been mentored and have been working hard over the past four months to improve their displays and presentation for the national competition.
The students will be accompanied by Jack Hulland Elementary Teacher David Michayluk and Porter Creek Secondary Teacher Kasia Leary.
The primary goals of the CWSF are to create a positive scientific and social experience for the students by introducing them to their peers from across the country, and to see how the Yukon student’s projects compare with what other young Canadian scientists are doing.
The entire week will be full of social and recreational events including a banquet and opening ceremonies, visits to educational institutions and industries, and two days of project judging by over 500 scientists, industry experts and educators.
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For more information contact:
Heather Dundas, Coordinator Science Adventures
Yukon Research Centre, Yukon College
t 867.668.8739 scienceadventures@yukoncollege.yk.ca www.scienceadventures.ca
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
You can now hear the efforts of many Yukoners working on climate change adaptation plans!
These community based plans were completed through the Community Climate Change Adaptation Program (CCCAP) with the Northern Climate ExChange (NCE) at the Yukon Research Centre (YRC). This 5 year program has just wrapped up and the participants have lots to share.
You can now hear why these adaptation plans are important to the Yukon, how Yukoners became involved and what they have accomplished.
Help us celebrate this great accomplishment by listening to their stories.
Community Climate Change Adaptation Program - Overview
Mayo’s Plan
Dawson’s Plan
Whitehorse’s Plan
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Whitehorse - Science Adventures in partnership with the Association of Professional Engineers of Yukon are pleased to welcome everyone to the 19th Annual Bridge Building Contest this Saturday, April 14, at Porter Creek Secondary School in the gym.
Bridge viewing happens between 12:00 and 1:00 pm followed by bridge strength testing. This year 8 schools participated in building just over 80 different bridges. Join us to witness the loads these bridges can endure before they break.
“We are really excited to see this program in its 19th year, “said Heather Dundas, Coordinator of Science Adventures at the Yukon Research Centre, Yukon College. “So much passion goes into this event. The youth and families that compete are learning engineering principles, design concepts, building skills, and teamwork, and having a great time. It’s really a spectacular show.”
During the past 3 months approximately over 130 Yukon students and members of the public have been building bridges out of wooden coffee stir sticks, white glue and - in some cases - dental floss.
Teams of up to 4 individuals have worked on each bridge and a few teams have built more than one bridge. Jack Hulland School and Robert Service School entered the largest number of bridges this year.
The goal? To build the lightest bridge that can hold the most weight using the bridge criteria as set out in the official rules
All competitors receive a certificate that includes a photo of their bridge before testing and a participation prize. Prizes will also be awarded in each category and there are special prizes for best narrative, best looking, strongest and lightest bridge.
Visit www.scienceadventures.ca for details on the competition.
