2026 Weston Family Awards in Northern Research

• These annual awards are some of the most prestigious in the country for students pursuing a master’s degree, a doctoral degree or postdoctoral fellowship. In 2026, the Foundation will aim to support:
  • Up to 15 awards for master’s students valued at $20,000 over one year
  • Up to 10 awards for doctoral students valued at $120,000 over three years
  • Up to 5 awards for postdoctoral fellows valued at $130,000 over two years.

The Weston Family Awards in Northern Research were established in 2007 with the goal of investing in early-career northern researchers whose work aims to protect and restore northern biodiversity in Canada. Since their inception, the Awards have supported over 430 researchers from more than 40 different academic institutions, forming a community of Weston Family Northern Scientists who are at the forefront of northern scholarship and who are helping shape a better future for Canada and the world.

Weston Family Awards in Northern Research winners undertake projects that range across the country, and across a broad spectrum of fields and disciplines in the natural sciences, including the study of Canada’s northern ecosystems, biodiversity, oceanography, glaciology, geography, and the environment.

Where We Fund

Weston Family Northern Scholars are encouraged to co-design their research with northern communities. Projects must take place in northern Canada. The terrestrial geographic scope of northern Canada for this program is anything north of the
southernmost Boreal line as defined by Brandt (2009) The marine geographic scope of northern Canada for this program includes the following marine bioregions:

• Arctic Basin
• Western Arctic
• Arctic Archipelago
• Eastern Arctic
• Hudson Bay Complex
• Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves

Extended Stay Program

The Extended Stay Program was an important piece of the Weston Family Awards in Northern Research. In past years, the Foundation supported students with projects that took them into communities to engage and share the results and impact of their research. The Extended Stay Program has been paused for the 2026 intake of the Weston Family Awards in Northern Research.

Partners

ArcticNet

The Weston Family Foundation is proud to be a supporter of ArcticNet’s Annual Scientific Meeting. These meetings often include events or learning opportunities for the Weston Family Awards in Northern Research Scholars, Reviewers, and other partners. To learn more about ArcticNet, visit their website 

Earth Rangers

Earth Rangers supports the Weston Family Awards in Northern Research Scholars through their Northern Wildlife Adoption Program. Each year, iconic northern wildlife species are available in plushie form for symbolic adoption by kids and families that are keen to support northern conservation. The proceeds of these adoptions flows directly to select Northern Scholars’ research efforts. These Scholars are also invited to engage children and youth on their research through Earth Rangers’ science communications efforts. It is a great opportunity to learn about science communications and engaging non-scientific audiences!