David S Hik

David S Hik currently serves as Chief Scientist and Vice-President of Research at Polar Knowledge Canada while maintaining his position as Professor of Biological Sciences at Simon Fraser University. With over 38 years of expertise studying high-latitude and alpine environments, he has established himself as a prominent figure in mountain and Arctic ecology research. His academic journey includes degrees from Queens University (BSc), University of Toronto (MSc), and University of British Columbia (PhD), followed by postdoctoral work at CSIRO in Australia. Throughout his career, he has held prestigious positions including Canada Research Chair in Northern Ecology at the University of Alberta and Associate Dean at Simon Fraser University. His research focuses on understanding ecological processes, particularly plant-herbivore interactions, biodiversity conservation, and climate change impacts in mountain and northern environments. He conducts long-term studies across diverse locations including Yukon, Alberta, British Columbia, Iceland, and Costa Rica, with his Yukon mountains research project being Canada's longest-running terrestrial mountain ecology initiative. In September 2021, he relocated to Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, to lead the Science and Technology Framework at the Canadian High Arctic Research Station, where he works to advance Canada's Arctic knowledge while supporting Indigenous communities facing climate change challenges. His contributions to science education include developing highly-rated online courses like "Mountains 101" and "Sheep in the Land of Fire and Ice," making mountain science accessible to global audiences.