Aug 29, 2024: Presentation by Philipp Budka at the Churchill Barber Symposium 2024

Philipp Budka will be presenting at this year’s Churchill Barber Symposium on Thursday, August 29, 2024, at 09:00 local time (Churchill, Manitoba) or 16:00 CEST. His presentation will discuss the organization and results of two future scenario workshops held in Churchill in 2023. Here is the abstract of his presentation:

The Town of Churchill, a community of 870 people on the Hudson Bay in northern Manitoba, is unique in terms of transport infrastructure. It is inaccessible by road but it is home to the only deep-water port on the Arctic Ocean that is directly linked to the North American rail system. The community’s relatively large airport, which was constructed due to the former military presence, has become a key component of the growing tourism industry in the “Polar Bear Capital of the World.” The town’s history is closely intertwined with these infrastructures, and they have played a significant role in its growth and development. But what does the future hold for Churchill? What are the implications of the transfer of ownership and operation of the Hudson Bay Railway and the Port of Churchill to a consortium of local communities for the town and the region? How might climate change and environmental crises impact the community, its economy, and infrastructure? What could a sustainable Churchill look like? To address such questions and related future scenarios, the European Research Council (ERC) project InfraNorth, with the support of the Town of Churchill, organized two future scenario workshops in August 2023. These events brought together locals as well as transport professionals to discuss, evaluate, and outline a variety of infrastructure scenarios.

Since 2022, the Churchill Barber Symposium (supported by Polar Bears International, the Town of Churchill, the University of Manitoba, and the Churchill Northern Studies Centre) has brought together experts to discuss issues related to the ecological future of Hudson Bay, with a focus on sea ice change and its impact on the regional ecosystem near Churchill, Manitoba. Under the theme “Looking to the Future: Opportunities and Challenges,” the 2024 symposium will feature a selection of presentations on current and past research focusing on the town of Churchill as well as the Hudson Bay and its coast.

The symposium is open to the public and can be viewed via Zoom.