Cécile de Sérigny, MSc

What’s the work that you do?

Students on Ice bring youth from around the world for an immersive experience on a vessel in the arctic and Antarctic. As an Expedition Manager for the Students on Ice (SOI) Foundation, I bring my passion for the North and extensive field experience to my role. I oversee all scientific activities, land uses permits, educators onboarding and the participants’ Learning Journey.

What keeps you going?

I’m driven by the moment a young person finally embraces who they are. My passion is creating expedition spaces where ‘fitting in’ isn’t required because belonging is guaranteed. I love designing programs where diversity isn’t just accepted—it’s celebrated.

I love the magic of the trail—where a hesitant teenager discovers their own strength and realizes they have a unique voice to offer to their community. I don’t just guide these journeys; I join them. In that shared discovery, I learn as much from them as they do from me. It’s where I feel most alive.

What’s your message to the world?

As a woman in polar science, I’ve learned that listening is an act of strength. True research or any exploration begins with reciprocity—with Indigenous women and men, with Elders, with the land.