Michelle’s work focuses on determining how to safely navigate these changes through the safe disposal and remediation practices in the geoscientific industry (drilling waste sumps in discontinuous permafrost sin the Sahtu region, NT). In her professional career, Michelle hopes to continue working collaboratively with Indigenous communities to address shared concerns regarding environmental changes occurring in our world, and the potential these changes have to alter ecosystems, creating hazards for humans, water and animals alike.

Testimonial about LEAP

“Joining the NSERC CREATE LEAP program allows me to gain knowledge from experienced researchers, northern partners and my fellow trainees surrounding the topics of permafrost and northern studies. This practical training provides me with the opportunities for the development of foundational knowledge about permafrost related issues and investigation techniques, such as the importance and applications of water sampling, climate modelling, and geomorphology to detect hazards.

By participating in the northern field school of this program, I will be able to directly apply these skills to address community concerns brought forward by the members of the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR) surrounding permafrost thaw and detrimental environmental repercussions it has already caused and will bring in the following decades.”