Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta.
Guest Professor, Polar Research Institute of China, Shanghai, China
Dr. Hik holds a B.Sc. from Queen’s University, a M.Sc. from the University of Toronto, a Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization in Canberra, Australia.
His research interests are focused on the ecology and ecosystem dynamics of mountain and cold-region environments; determinants of social-ecological resilience; and the interface between science and policy.
Dr. Hik previously held the Canada Research Chair in Northern Ecology (2002-2012) and served as Executive Director of the Canadian International Polar Year (IPY) Secretariat (2004-2009). He recently completed terms as President of the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) and Vice-Chair of the Arctic Council’s ‘Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks (SAON)’ initiative. Dr. Hik is also a member of several other Boards, including Polar Knowledge Canada; the Arctic Center, University of Lapland; and the Arctic Institute of Community-Based Research, Yukon.
Dr. Hik has numerous publications and awards, most recently receiving the Royal Canadian Geographical Society’s Martin Bergmann Medal for Excellence in Arctic Leadership and Science (2013) and Erebus Medal (2015).