Mallik Mahmud, Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography, is one of nine early-career ocean researchers across Canada awarded the 2026 Early Career Researcher Award by the Marine Environmental Observation Prediction and Response Network (MEOPAR), recognizing exceptional early-career ocean researchers whose work advances climate resilience.

MEOPAR invests in early career researchers with the goal of securing a stronger, more resilient future for Canada’s ocean and coastal communities by enabling them to expand their expertise, build strong collaborations, and deliver research with real-world impact for communities, ecosystems, and the economy.

Mahmud leads the Polar Remote Sensing Research Group at McGill, which investigates innovative remote sensing technologies to advance sea ice monitoring, supported by comprehensive field-based research in the Arctic region. Drawing on radar systems, satellite technologies, and a fusion of geostatistical and machine-learning methodologies, the team investigates the complex phenomena of Arctic sea ice and its far-reaching implications for our evolving climate.

With support from MEOPAR, Mahmud’s research project, Aukkarniqsiutik (Polynya) Mapping with Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and Remote Sensing, will deliver the first automated system for detecting and mapping landfast ice polynyas—areas of open water or thin ice within otherwise stable ice—at scales relevant to Inuit communities.

By combining cutting-edge satellite technology with Inuit knowledge, Mahmud will develop a tool that improves safety and strengthens climate resilience. Outputs will include printed maps, digital tools, and integration with platforms such as SIKU—an app and web platform made by and for Indigenous communities for ice, wildlife, and weather monitoring—ensuring the information is accessible and practical for hunters and travelers alike.

"I have always felt that more effort is needed to bridge Arctic science and advanced technology with Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, and this award marks my first real step toward contributing to that effort in a meaningful way," said Mahmud. "This work brings together satellite remote sensing and Inuit knowledge to create practical, community-centered information that supports safer travel, climate resilience, and the well-being of Inuit communities.”