My Northern Project 2026 | Call for Applications

INQ invites master’s and doctoral students working on a northern or Arctic-related topic to submit their application to take part in the provincial final of the science communication competition My Northern Project (MNP).

A science communication and synthesis exercise, My Northern Project is a competition in which students present their northern research project on stage, in a fast-paced 5-minute presentation.
 

Goal of the exercise: to simplify, inform, and captivate!

What’s at stake :

Four spots for the international final of the competition*, held in Iceland as part of the Arctic Circle Assembly**, one of the world’s leading international forums for dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic.

*A portion of the travel and accommodation expenses for students participating in the international final is covered by Institut nordique du Québec, in collaboration with its partners.

**The international final is subject to the following three conditions:

1) the availability of INQ funding,

2) the securing of funding for partner UArctic, and

3) approval from the Arctic Circle Assembly organizers to include the final of the My Northern Project competition in their program.

Please note that if any of these conditions cannot be met, or if other unforeseen circumstances prevent the international final from being held, INQ will provide a $500 grant to the Québec winners selected for the international final as compensation.

Timeline 

  • Launch of the call for applications by INQ – January 12, 2026
  • Application deadline – April 6, 2026, at midnight
  • Review of submitted applications by an evaluation committee – April 2026
  • Announcement of selected candidates – Week of April 13, 2026
  • Provincial final of the competition – May 22, 2026, in Québec City
  • International final of the competition – October 8–10, 2026, in Iceland (as part of the Arctic Circle Assembly)

How to Participate

1. Eligibility

To be eligible for the My Northern Project competition, you must:

  • Be enrolled in a master’s* or doctoral program at one of the INQ member institutions
  • Be working on a research project focused on a northern theme (north of the 49th parallel).

*Please note that, to participate in the competition, master’s students must have completed analysis of data collected as part of their research project.

2. Presentation Guidelines

  • The presentation must be exactly 5 minutes.
  • The presentation must be accompanied by a visual aid (PowerPoint-style), consisting of a maximum of 10 slides with no animations.
  • Both the presentation and the visual aid must be delivered in French.
  • The use of a prop during the presentation is permitted. However, the prop must not be a central element of the presentation and must be used solely to support the spoken content.

3. Application Package

The application package must include the following elements:

  • Full name of the student
  • Email address
  • Home institution
  • Program of study (please indicate whether you are enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program)
  • A cover letter and statement of motivation (maximum one page)
  • A letter of recommendation from the supervisor (see template)
  • Title of your research project
  • A summary of your research project (maximum 300 words)

*Please note that at the application stage, you are not required to submit your presentation.

4. Submit your application

  • Application deadline: April 6, 2026, at midnight
  • You must submit your application package to the following address: info@inq.ulaval.ca
  • For any questions, please contact Andréanne Bernatchez, Communications Officer at Institut nordique du Québec (andreanne.bernatchez@inq.ulaval.ca).

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International Final and Participation in the Arctic Circle Assembly

The Competition

Since 2017, the international final of the science communication competition My Northern Project has taken place as part of the Arctic Circle Assembly, one of the leading international forums for dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. During the competition final, Québec students take the stage and engage the audience by presenting their northern research project in a clear, accessible manner and in English.

To do so, finalists are given exactly five minutes and may use a maximum of 10 slides with no animations to support their presentation. Five additional students, selected internationally, also take part in the competition. Members of the audience present on-site are invited to vote for their favorite presentation, thereby determining the overall winner of My Northern Project.

The Québec Delegation at the Arctic Circle Assembly

To strengthen the province’s international network of northern and Arctic partners, while reinforcing Québec’s position as a key player in this field, a Québec delegation participates in the Arctic Circle Assembly each year. Québec finalists from the My Northern Project competition selected for the international final join this delegation and take an active part in its activities.

This unique experience allows them to gain a better understanding of the strategic role of such a delegation and to discover behind the scenes of a major international gathering—one that serves as a catalyst for numerous scientific collaborations.

 

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