A local student is heading off on the trip of a lifetime.
Laurissa Christie will be exploring Canada’s north as part of the Students On Ice Arctic Expedition 2009.
The 16 year Tara resident was the only student from Ontario selected to join the expedition.
Christie – who is heading into Grade 11 at St. Mary’s High School in Owen Sound this September – will be joining 13 Canadian students and 75 international students on the 16 day journey.
Christie says they’ll be working side by side with 30 world-renowned scientists and environmentalists.
A research ship will take the group around Baffin Island, Nunavut, and past the Arctic Circle.
They will also take zodiacs to get up close to icebergs and to go ashore.
Christie says they’ll be making observations of icebergs and arctic wildlife, and perhaps even assisting the researchers with scientific experiments.
The average temperatures Christie will be dealing with are between minus 10 degrees and 10 degrees.
She jokes that coming from Bruce County, she already feels prepared for the weather, but has bought some gortex clothes to layer up in.
Christie says it’s important that students are given chances like these to explore such important environmental issues because they are the researchers of tomorrow.
Christie has won 5 medals at the Canada Wide Science Fairs and says she is considering a career in environmental or health sciences.
Christie is flying to Ottawa today to make a connection to Nunavut, where the group will board the icebreaker.
She will return on August 13th.