For most of his career, Ross taught Geography at UBC and conducted over 60 years of field research on permafrost in the Northwest Territories. The field work in the Mackenzie Delta, Garry Island, Paulatuk and other sites in the Western Arctic, left him with an enduring love of the North and its people. He was proud to be called a Paulatuk “elder.” His exemplary field methods resulted in several fundamental discoveries. In particular, his research into the origin of pingos and the development of tundra polygons brought him much recognition in Canada and around the world. He wore his Order of Canada insignia with pride and received numerous honours and distinctions from his fellow scientists in Russia, China, Europe, the US and Canada. In 1987, UBC awarded him a DSc honoris causa. He published over two hundred scholarly works.

To learn more about Ross’s life and legacy see his biography and his obituary.

Honours: Order of Canada; Fellow of The Royal Society of Canada; Doctor of Geography (Hon), University of Ottawa; D.E.S. (Hon), University of Waterloo; D.Sc. (Hon), UVIC; D.Sc. (Hon), UBC; Doctor of Philosophy honoris causa, University of Helsinki