Woody Debris on Arctic Coasts

Isaac Guld was a semi-finalist in the 2026 UBC Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition. Isaac presented the research titled “Woody Debris on Arctic Coasts.” The community of Tuktoyaktuk, within the Inuvialuit Settlement Region in the Mackenzie-Beaufort area of the western Canadian Arctic, faces flood and erosion hazards exacerbated by Tuktoyaktuk's low-lying topography and embayments, which trap large quantities of driftwood ("woody debris"). Traditionally a resource used as firewood or for building small structures, the community has raised concerns that the growing volume of woody debris may pose a new danger to their community. This research asks the question: as the Arctic warms, will driftwood become a hazard? Isaac Guld is completing a MASc in Civil Engineering in the Department of Civil Engineering under the supervision of Dr. Enda Murphy. #3MT is an academic competition that assists current graduate students with fostering effective presentation and communication skills. Participants have just three minutes to explain the breadth and significance of their research project to a non-specialist audience. For more information or to participate in UBC’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) visit https://3mt.grad.ubc.ca.