PNC/CCUEN 2025 Annual Meeting: Advancing Environmental Science Through Research, Education, and Engagement

PCN is partnering with the Canadian College and University Environmental Network (CCUEN) for this year’s joint meeting. Get ready for our regular programming to be even more amazing, featuring insightful and engaging discussions on environmental education.

Plenary speakers: Danika Littlechild and Peter Ross

Peter Ross

Dr. Peter S. Ross is an internationally recognized ocean pollution expert, having published over 160 scientific articles and book chapters on pollutants of concern in the oceans, and impacts on fish, seals and whales.

He discovered the region’s killer whales to be the most ‘contaminated marine mammals in the world’ in a groundbreaking study, and recently reported on the widespread distribution of microplastics in the NE Pacific and Arctic oceans. He recently served as the Vice-President of Research at Ocean Wise, where he founded the Ocean Pollution Research Program, launched PollutionTracker and the Plastics Lab.

Prior to that, he served for 16 years as a federal Research Scientist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada. His work with priority pollutants and microplastics has led to numerous invitations to advise industry, government, the G7, the European Union, and the OECD. His work has been featured prominently in national and international media. Dr. Ross is an Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia and at the University of Victoria. Dr Ross is now Senior Scientist at Raincoast Conservation Foundation, where he is developing a new community-oriented Healthy Waters Program.

Danika Littlechild

Bio: Danika Billie Rose Littlechild is a First Nations scholar who is a Registered Member of Ermineskin Cree Nation (Neyâskweyâhk), Maskwacis, Treaty 6 territory, Alberta.

She holds a UNESCO Research Chair in Biodiversity, Conservation and Indigenous Health and Well-Being. Danika is interested in environment, water, biodiversity, conservation and Indigenous systems, laws, protocols and practices.

She is co-Investigator in The ⴰⵔⵔⴰⵎⴰⵜ Ărramăt Project: Strengthening health and wellbeing through Indigenous-led conservation and sustainable relationships with biodiversity – a New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) Transformations Grant of $24 million announced in January 2022. She’s a frequent committee member, advisor, and consultant with expertise in laws and policy pertaining to Indigenous Peoples and environment, as well as a familiarity in working with systems, laws, and cultures of many Indigenous Peoples. She practiced law for two decades, working primarily with Indigenous Peoples and organizations, was previously an assistant professor at Carleton University, and was vice-president of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO.