Arctic and data experts breaking the bounds of what can be known and revealing new possibilities

ABOUT US

Bridging the gap in coverage of Arctic ice

We’ve been bringing attention to sea ice since our founding in 2018.

Co-founders, Leslie and Lauren, are Yup’ik Alaska Natives who were working with the Federal government when they realized weather forecasting was focused on hurricanes, not sea ice.

Recognizing this gap, and driven by a deep-seated commitment to the Arctic community's well-being and sustainability, they leveraged their backgrounds in oceanography and technology to develop a solution.

The Arctic is so much more than a beautiful place - it's our home. We understand the challenges and take this work seriously.

We are dedicated to bringing our lifetime of lived and professional experience to help the people, communities, and industries who navigate the Arctic adjust to the new normal and make adapting mutually beneficial for all.

Our modeling addresses future “what if” scenarios that enable you to interact with the data and information in ways that best suit your subsistence, commercial, or management needs.

Meet Our Arctic A-Team:

Oceanography Specialist, Military Officer, Programming Savant, and Policy Experts

Our team

Leslie Canavera

CEO

Leslie Canavera stands at the helm of our innovative team as the co-founder and CEO, bringing a dynamic blend of visionary leadership and strategic business acumen. Leslie’s entrepreneurial spirit and keen market insight have been the driving forces behind PolArctic’s growth and development.

Leslie’s approach to business is characterized by a relentless pursuit of excellence, a deep belief in the power of collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to delivering value to our clients. Under Leslie’s guidance, our team is empowered to break new ground, challenge the status quo, and set new standards in our industry.

Lauren Decker

Chief Scientific Officer

Lauren Decker, Co-founder and Chief Science Officer is the genius behind our cutting-edge technology and innovative product development. With a robust background in developing oceanographic models and a passion for applying programming to solve complex problems, Lauren has been instrumental in developing our core technologies.

Her expertise not only lies in writing elegant code but also in her ability to foresee technological trends and integrate them into our products and services. Lauren’s leadership in the tech department has fostered an environment of continuous learning and experimentation, ensuring that our solutions remain at the forefront of innovation.

Marisol Maddox

Operational Research Analyst

Marisol Maddox, our Operations Research Analyst, is the mastermind behind our research development, armed with top-notch data and a passion for policy and responsible business growth. With her sharp analytical brain and a specialty in Arctic Security, Marisol weaves her expertise into various fields, paving the way for our cutting-edge AI techniques.

Her pivotal role involves dissecting scientific reports, pinpointing performance markers, and seamlessly meshing into policy decisions that shape the dynamic Arctic landscape. Marisol's valuable insights and suggestions play a vital role in keeping us ahead of the curve, slashing costs, and boosting profits. Her commitment to excellence and sustainable Arctic growth is the bedrock of our operational game plan.

Christopher Curry

Programmer

Christopher Curry is our expert Programmer, known for his exceptional coding skills and meticulous attention to detail. Chris' contribution to our team goes beyond his ability to write flawless code; he has a unique talent for debugging and optimizing systems, making our products more efficient and reliable.

His deep understanding of various programming languages and frameworks has made him an invaluable asset to our team. Chris’ collaborative spirit and problem-solving prowess have been key to our success in developing complex software solutions that meet and exceed our client’s expectations.

Interested in joining our team? Learn about current openings.

EXPERTISE

We are an Alaska Native, women, and disabled veteran owned small business

Selected for the Lloyd’s of London Accelerator

We are proud to have been recognized as innovators by Lloyds of London, Lloyd’s Lab in Cohort 10, with a focus on new data and models. Lloyd’s is the world’s leading specialist insurance market, conducting business in over 200 countries and territories worldwide – and is often the first to insure new, unusual or complex risks such as the Arctic experiencing climate change.

Awarded $1 million Phase II grant from the National Science Foundation

We are developing a revolutionary digital twin (a virtual ocean of the North Pacific Ocean around Alaska) to understand the detailed impacts of climate change on fishery stocks. Our digital twin integrates multiscale information such as traditional indigenous knowledge, scientific measurements, and satellite data, weaved together to create a holistic picture of the changes.

Advanced to the top 10 of the National Security Innovation Network Global Fishing Watch Challenge

We are thrilled that our team has been selected as one of the top ten finalists in the prestigious NSIN/NGA Global Fishing Forecast Grand Challenge! This challenge not only highlights the importance of innovative forecasting in the management of fisheries but also underscores the critical role of novel data sources and methodologies in making a difference.