Kathleen Conlan

Conlan was born on June 3, 1950, in Ottawa, Ontario. She completed her undergraduate degree, a Bachelor of Science, at Queen's University in 1972, before undertaking a M.Sc. from the University of Victoria in 1977. Conlan completed her Ph.D. at Carleton University in 1988. The title of her Ph.D. thesis was "Systematics and sexual dimorphism: reclassification of the crustacean amphipod genus Jassa (Corophioidea: Ischyroceridae)."{{Cite web|url=https://nature.ca/en/research-collections/science-experts/kathleen-e-conlan|title=Kathleen E. Conlan—Professional Profile|last=|first=|date=|website=nature.ca|publisher=Canadian Museum of Nature|access-date=2016-06-18|archive-date=2019-01-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115154000/https://nature.ca/en/research-collections/science-experts/kathleen-e-conlan|url-status=dead}}

The inspiration for her to study both the Arctic and the Antarctic came from a pioneer Antarctic marine biologist, Dr. John Oliver, who was one of the early divers in the Antarctic.{{Cite web|url=https://anniversary.mlml.calstate.edu/2016/01/the-benthic-lab-in-antarctica/|title=The Benthic Lab in Antarctica {{!}} MLML 50th Anniversary|website=anniversary.mlml.calstate.edu|access-date=2016-06-18}} Conlan met Oliver through a colleague, and was invited to be part of his Antarctic research team in 1991.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8kz_IqtmjkUC|title=A Northern Front: New and Selected Essays|last=Hildebrand|first=John|date=2005-01-01|publisher=Minnesota Historical Society|isbn=9780873515283|language=en}}{{Cite journal|last1=Conlan|first1=Kathleen E.|last2=Kim|first2=Stacy L.|last3=Lenihan|first3=Hunter S.|last4=Oliver|first4=John S.|date=2004-07-01|title=Benthic changes during 10 years of organic enrichment by McMurdo Station, Antarctica|journal=Marine Pollution Bulletin|volume=49|issue=1–2|pages=43–60|doi=10.1016/j.marpolbul.2004.01.007|pmid=15234873|bibcode=2004MarPB..49...43C }} In return, Conlan invited his research team to begin studies in the Canadian Arctic.{{Cite web|url=http://www.science.ca/scientists/scientistprofile.php?pID=439|title=science.ca : Kathy Conlan|website=www.science.ca|access-date=2016-06-18}} As a result, she is still studying ecological processes in both the Arctic and Antarctic, 25 years after they first began polar research.

Conlan is currently a Research Scientist at the Canadian Museum of Nature. Her research focuses on communities of marine life on the sea floor of the Antarctic and Arctic and the impacts of natural or anthropogenic changes. Conlan's research has had significant impact.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/archives/nunavut030124/news/features/30124_02.html|title=Nunatsiaq News|website=www.nunatsiaqonline.ca|access-date=2016-06-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012061527/http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/archives/nunavut030124/news/features/30124_02.html|archive-date=2016-10-12|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://phishdoc.com/2014/11/14/upwelling/|title=Upwelling|last=Sopinka|first=Natalie|date=2014-11-14|website=Phish Doc|access-date=2016-06-18|archive-date=2016-06-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623032622/https://phishdoc.com/2014/11/14/upwelling/|url-status=dead}} Her study of long-term benthic changes near McMurdo Station helped change the U.S. Antarctic Program's procedures for sewage discharge in the Antarctic.{{Cite web|url=http://nature.ca/education/cls/video/indexv_e.cfm|title=Educational Videos from the Canadian Museum of Nature|last=Paquette|first=Nicole|website=nature.ca|access-date=2016-06-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915055036/http://nature.ca/education/cls/video/indexv_e.cfm|archive-date=2016-09-15|url-status=dead}} She also discovered that the B-15 iceberg (the world's largest recorded iceberg) in Antarctica could impact benthic life over 100 km as it blocked access to their main food supply, the annual plankton bloom.{{Cite web|url=http://www.polarcom.gc.ca/eng/content/canadian-committee-antarctic-research-ccar|title=Canadian Committee on Antarctic Research (CCAR) {{!}} Canadian Polar Commission|website=www.polarcom.gc.ca|access-date=2016-06-18|archive-date=2016-08-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808122924/http://www.polarcom.gc.ca/eng/content/canadian-committee-antarctic-research-ccar|url-status=dead}} This is a far-reaching effect that had not been previously documented.

Conlan is actively involved within the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). She is a Canadian representative on SCAR's Standing Scientific Group on Life Sciences (SSG-LS),{{Cite web|url=http://www.scar.org/ssg-ls/ls-members|title=Membership|website=www.scar.org|access-date=2016-06-18|archive-date=2016-04-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412085344/http://www.scar.org/ssg-ls/ls-members|url-status=dead}} and has served as Chief Officer of the SSG-LS from 2008 to 2012{{Cite web|url=http://www.museprize.org/selection/current-committee-members.html|title=Tinker-Muse Prize for Science and Policy in Antarctica|website=www.museprize.org|access-date=2016-06-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805145402/http://museprize.org/selection/current-committee-members.html|archive-date=2016-08-05|url-status=usurped}} and Secretary from 2004 to 2008. Conlan is currently on the selection committee of the prestigious Tinker-Muse Prize for Science and Policy in Antarctica.{{Cite web|url=https://canadianmuseumofnature.wordpress.com/2015/07/29/an-exceptional-antarctic-scientist/|title=An Exceptional Antarctic Scientist|last=Conlan|first=Kathleen|date=2015-07-29|website=Canadian Museum of Nature - Blog|access-date=2016-06-18}}

Conlan is a long-standing member of the Canadian Committee on Antarctic Research (1998–Present), providing advice and guidance on matters pertaining to Antarctic research and serving as a link between SCAR and the Canadian polar research community. She was Section Head of the Life Sciences-Zoology Program at the Canadian Museum of Nature (2006-2016) and adjunct professor at Carleton University (2004-2013).

Conlan's impact has extended beyond research. She has mentored over 50 students and has given nearly 50 interviews to the media about Antarctica and over 100 popular talks.{{Cite journal|last=Woolston|first=Chris|date=2015-12-10|title=Marine biology: Charting sea life|journal=Nature|language=en|volume=528|issue=7581|pages=295–297|doi=10.1038/nj7581-295a|pmid=26677466|doi-access=free}}{{Citation|last=Canadian Museum of Nature|title=Antarctic Pollution|date=2010-07-02|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RH5Hp12QAw|accessdate=2016-06-18}}{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0873515285|title=Google Search|access-date=2016-06-18}} She has been profiled in four polar exhibits for museums in Canada and the U.S.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vanaqua.org/learn/online-exhibits/canadas-arctic/unlocking-mysteries|title=Client Validation|website=www.vanaqua.org|access-date=2016-06-18}}{{Dead link|date=April 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Cite web|url=https://sciencenorth.ca/internationalsales/index.aspx?id=3894|title=Arctic Voices {{!}} International Sales {{!}} Science North|website=sciencenorth.ca|access-date=2016-06-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160628161351/http://www.sciencenorth.ca/internationalsales/index.aspx?id=3894|archive-date=2016-06-28|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=http://nature.ca/en/arctic|title=Extraordinary Arctic {{!}} Canadian Museum of Nature|website=nature.ca|access-date=2016-06-18}}{{Cite web|url=http://nature.ca/en/about-us/products-services/travelling-exhibition-rentals/canadas-waterscapes-3|title=Travelling Exhibition: Canada's Waterscapes {{!}} Canadian Museum of Nature|website=nature.ca|access-date=2016-06-18}}{{Dead link|date=April 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} She has written over 20 scientific papers on the Antarctic and her underwater photographs assist newcomers with identifying Antarctic marine life.{{Cite web|url=http://www.peterbrueggeman.com/nsf/fguide/index.html|title=Underwater Field Guide to Ross Island & McMurdo Sound, Antarctica|website=www.peterbrueggeman.com|access-date=2016-06-18}} She was an educator on the inaugural voyages (2000-2001) of the international Students on Ice program to educate youth about the importance of the Polar Regions.{{Cite web|url=http://studentsonice.com/about-us/|title=About Us - Students on Ice|website=Students on Ice|language=en-US|access-date=2016-06-18|archive-date=2016-05-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519010210/http://studentsonice.com/about-us/|url-status=dead}} In 2002, Conlan wrote a children's book, titled Under the Ice: A Marine Biologist at Work, published by Kids Can Press.{{Cite book |last=Conlan |first=Kathy |title=Under the Ice: A Marine Biologist at Work |publisher=Kids Can Press |year=2002 |isbn=978-1553370017}}

Conlan was named as one of Canada's Greatest Explorers in 2015 by Canadian Geographic for her polar research which involved 20 expeditions, 11 of them to Antarctica.{{Cite web|url=http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/canadian-explorers/canadian-explorer.asp?explorername=Kathleen-Conlan&id=36|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918192456/http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/canadian-explorers/canadian-explorer.asp?explorername=Kathleen-Conlan&id=36|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 18, 2015|title=Kathleen Conlan - Canada's Greatest Explorers - Canadian Geographic|website=Canadian Geographic|language=en|access-date=2016-06-18}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/blog/posting.asp?ID=1811|title=Canada's greatest modern women explorers|website=Canadian Geographic|access-date=2016-06-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319023816/http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/blog/posting.asp?ID=1811|archive-date=2016-03-19|url-status=dead}} She is also the recipient of the Science in Society Children's Book Award from Canadian Science Writers’ Association for "Under the Ice"{{Cite book|title=Under the Ice: A Marine Biologist at Work|last1=Conlan|first1=Kathy|last2=Nature|first2=Canadian Museum of|date=2004-08-01|publisher=Kids Can Press|isbn=9781553370604|location=Toronto|language=English}}{{Cite web|url=https://bookcentre.ca/book-review/2002_science_in_society_book_award_recipient_kathy_conlan/|title=2002 Science in Society Book Award Recipient: Kathy Conlan - Canadian Children's Book Centre|website=Canadian Children's Book Centre|language=en-US|access-date=2016-06-18}} a book for youth featuring her research experiences in the Arctic and Antarctic.{{Cite web|url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/472360.Under_the_Ice|title=Under the Ice|website=Goodreads|access-date=2016-06-18}}

Conlan received an Antarctica Service Medal (1992) from the US Department of the Navy and the National Science Foundation.{{Cite web|url=http://kathleeneconlan.weebly.com/about-kathy-conlan.html|title=About Kathy Conlan|website=KATHLEEN e. CONLAN|access-date=2016-06-18}} She is also a 3-time winner of the R. W. Brock Award for best Canadian Museum of Nature research paper (1998, 2003 and 2006).{{Cite web|url=http://gurneetsainise-portfolio.weebly.com/canadian-scientist2.html|title=Canadian Scientist|website=Gurneet Saini's E-portfolio|access-date=2016-06-18}}

She was also nominated twice for the YMCA-YWCA Women of Distinction Award in the Technology Category (1999 and 2001).{{Cite web|url=http://www.science.ca/scientists/scientistprofile.php?pID=439|title=science.ca : Kathy Conlan|website=www.science.ca|access-date=2019-03-07}}

• {{Cite journal|last1=Barnes|first1=David K. A.|last2=Conlan|first2=Kathleen E.|date=2007-01-29|title=Disturbance, colonization and development of Antarctic benthic communities|journal=Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences|language=en|volume=362|issue=1477|pages=11–38|doi=10.1098/rstb.2006.1951|issn=0962-8436|pmc=3227166|pmid=17405206}}
• {{Cite journal|last1=Kim|first1=Stacy L.|last2=Thurber|first2=Andrew|last3=Hammerstrom|first3=Kamille|last4=Conlan|first4=Kathleen|date=2007-08-03|title=Seastar response to organic enrichment in an oligotrophic polar habitat|journal=Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology|volume=346|issue=1–2|pages=66–75|doi=10.1016/j.jembe.2007.03.004|bibcode=2007JEMBE.346...66K }}
• {{Cite journal|last=Conlan|first=Kathleen E.|date=1991-10-01|title=Precopulatory mating behavior and sexual dimorphism in the amphipod Crustacea|journal=Hydrobiologia|language=en|volume=223|issue=1|pages=255–282|doi=10.1007/BF00047644|bibcode=1991HyBio.223..255C |s2cid=24832061|issn=0018-8158}}
• {{Cite journal|last1=Conlan|first1=Kathleen E.|last2=Currie|first2=David R.|last3=Dittmann|first3=Sabine|last4=Sorokin|first4=Shirley J.|last5=Hendrycks|first5=Ed|date=2015-11-30|title=Macrofaunal Patterns in and around du Couedic and Bonney Submarine Canyons, South Australia|journal=PLOS ONE|volume=10|issue=11|pages=e0143921|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0143921|issn=1932-6203|pmc=4664417|pmid=26618354|bibcode=2015PLoSO..1043921C|doi-access=free}}

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Category:Antarctic scientists

Category:Canadian women biologists

Category:1950 births

Category:Living people

Category:Queen's University at Kingston alumni

Category:University of Victoria alumni

Category:Women Antarctic scientists

Category:20th-century Canadian biologists

Category:20th-century Canadian women scientists

Category:21st-century Canadian biologists

Category:21st-century Canadian women scientists

Category:Canadian marine biologists

Category:Carleton University alumni

Category:Scientists from Ottawa