Enooyaq Sudlovenick facts for kids

Enooyaq Sudlovenick (born around 1992) is an Inuk Canadian marine biologist. She studies the health of marine animals in the Arctic. In 2021, she received a special award called the Weston Family Awards in Northern Research for her important work.

Growing Up in the Arctic

Enooyaq Sudlovenick was born in Iqaluit around 1992. Her family has deep roots in the Arctic. Her great-grandfather was a German whaler. Her other ancestors were Inuit from areas like Pond Inlet and Taloyoak. Her father's family were Inuit from Inukjuaq.

She spent her childhood in Iqaluit and Pond Inlet on Baffin Island. From a young age, she explored the waters of Nunavut with her parents. She saw many amazing sea creatures. These included tiny sea angels, small northern krill, and long, thin eels.

Her Journey in Science

Discovering Her Path

Enooyaq had a summer job with the Canadian Wildlife Service. She worked on Prince Leopold Island. There, she saw a group of narwhals, also known as "unicorns of the sea." This experience inspired her to study marine life. She decided to focus on animals in the ocean instead of on land.

University Studies

Enooyaq earned her first degree, a Bachelor of Science, from the University of Guelph. She studied marine and freshwater biology. After that, she went to the University of Prince Edward Island. She earned a Master of Science degree there. Her studies focused on veterinary medicine, which is animal health.

For her Master's project, she studied ringed seals. Inuit hunters collected these seals for food. Enooyaq looked for signs of five different parasites in the seals. She also studied Arctic char fish and beluga whales.

As of 2021, Enooyaq has been working on her PhD degree. She is studying at the University of Manitoba. She is also the president of the ArcticNet Student Association. This group helps students who are studying the Arctic.

Studying Arctic Animals

Enooyaq studies marine life in the Beaufort Sea and the western Hudson Bay. These areas are important parts of the Arctic. She uses different ways to do her research. She uses Western science methods, like checking blood samples (called serology). She also looks for harmful substances in the animals.

She combines this with Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit. This is traditional Inuit knowledge. It includes things like how whales taste, when they are born, and where they travel. Enooyaq believes using both types of knowledge makes her projects better. She has also written about her experiences as an Indigenous scientist.

Enooyaq has been featured in Canadian news, like CBC News. She talks about Arctic marine animals and how to spot climate change. She is also a member of the Canadian Climate Institute. This group works on climate issues.

Awards and Recognition

In 2021, Enooyaq Sudlovenick received a major award. It was the Weston Family Awards in Northern Research. This award is given by the Weston Family Foundation. It honors scientists who are doing cutting-edge research in the Arctic. It shows how important her work is.