As glaciers recede, visitors at Canada's national parks can help track their retreat

The University of Waterloo is empowering national park visitors to get directly involved with scientific research into glacier regression.

As part of a new citizen science program launched in collaboration with Parks Canada, the Icy Initiative uses photos taken by visitors to monitor glacier regression in both Jasper National Park and Glacier National Park.

Chris Houser is the dean of science and a professor of earth and environmental sciences at the University of Waterloo. Cellphone stands designed by Houser and his research team have been installed at select glacier viewpoints.

In a process called repeat photography, visitors use the stands to take photos from the exact same location, allowing researchers to track gradual changes in the glaciers over time.

Historically, environmental