CHARS as an Arctic hub for marine research and observation

The Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut is a state-of-the-art, community-integrated research facility in the central Canadian Arctic. Opened in 2019 and operated by Polar Knowledge Canada, CHARS is located along the Northwest Passage in the Arctic Archipelago, which enables researchers to access diverse and rapidly changing marine and coastal systems. Located within a region experiencing some of the fastest rates of climate change globally, CHARS is uniquely positioned to support long-term environmental monitoring. Its laboratory infrastructure, field logistics support, and accommodation capacity enable interdisciplinary and international collaboration, connecting Arctic observations to national and global data networks and contributing to distributed marine observing systems and coordinated responses to marine and oceanic change. This presentation provides an overview of CHARS as a northern research hub, highlighting how CHARS supports marine research in the Canadian Arctic through a combination of infrastructure, partnerships, and applied science programs. Examples presented will showcase a range of marine-focused projects conducted in the Cambridge Bay region, including sea ice monitoring; coastal and nearshore ecosystem and environmental process studies; freshwater-marine interfaces; and research on fish, marine mammals, and aquatic food webs that inform community food security and ecosystem health. The presentation also emphasizes CHARS’ collaborative approach to research, which brings together academic, government, and northern partners alongside Indigenous knowledge holders. This approach advances shared research priorities and strengthens the relevance of marine science for northern communities. As Arctic marine systems continue gaining global importance, this presentation positions CHARS within global marine station networks, demonstrating how Arctic-based infrastructure contributes to distributed observing systems, international collaboration, and a more inclusive and comprehensive understanding of ocean and coastal change in a rapidly evolving Arctic.