Julia Baak

2021 Weston Family Awards in Northern Research recipient

PhD student
McGill University

Julia is a PhD student at McGill University studying the occurrence, fate and effects of plastic pollution in Arctic seabirds.

Marine plastic pollution is an increasing environmental problem in the Arctic, yet knowledge about plastic and plastic-related contaminants in Arctic seabirds is limited, particularly in the case of Arctic gulls. As human and shipping activities continue to increase in the Arctic, Julia’s research will focus on quantifying plastics and plastic-related contaminants in glaucous gulls and black-legged kittiwakes as indicators
of plastic pollution in Arctic ecosystems; examining the transport of plastics and plastic-related contaminants to the Arctic by glaucous gulls and black-legged kittiwakes; and assessing the impacts of plastics and plastic-related contaminants on these two Arctic seabirds.

The results of this research will contribute to an ongoing international effort to better understand plastic and plastic-related contaminants in the marine environment and how these contaminants may impact northern seabirds in a rapidly changing Arctic.

For more information about Julia and her research, visit her website at: www.juliaellenbaak.com.

Learn more about the Weston Family Awards in Northern Research.