Beneath the ice: The hidden life of Canada’s frozen lakes with Andrew Budziak and Andy Bramburger

What’s happening beneath the ice of Canada’s lakes?

Home to roughly two million lakes and covering nearly nine per cent of the country’s surface, Canada boasts a great reputation, holding more than half of the world’s freshwater lakes. But until recently, what goes on beneath Canada’s frozen surfaces has been largely unexplored. 

In this episode of Explore, podcast host David McGuffin dives into this hidden world with scientist Andy Bramburger and filmmaker Andrew Budziak.

From cutting massive holes in lake ice to sending divers into a surreal, cathedral-like underwater world, this is exploration at its most extreme. 

But the real story lies in what they’re exploring: diatoms — microscopic algae living on the underside of ice that help power aquatic food webs, produce oxygen and may play a critical role in carbon cycling during winter.

As ice cover shrinks with climate change, this little-known ecosystem could be disappearing before we fully understand it. Through a mix of science, storytelling and citizen-led exploration, Bramburger and Budziak are racing to uncover what’s beneath the ice—and why it matters to all of us.

A research scientist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, Bramburger is one of the world's leading experts on inland aquatic ecosystems. He is based at the Canada Centre for Inland Waters in Burlington, Ontario. Budziak is an award-winning wildlife photographer and documentary filmmaker. He continues to lead dive teams under the ice to collect samples while documenting the expedition. 

Together, they are part of an initiative led by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and the Trebek Initiative that advances our understanding of freshwater systems in winter. Budziak has also been recognized as a member of the prestigious Explorers Club 50 for his leadership on the project. His documentary Under the Ice captures the story behind the science. It is touring film festivals this year and will air on PBS.

In this episode:

• Why more than half the world’s lakes are in Canada, and why we know so little about them in winter
• What it’s like to dive beneath frozen lakes in extreme conditions
• The surprising role of diatoms in producing oxygen and supporting aquatic life
• How shrinking ice cover could disrupt entire freshwater ecosystems
• The power of citizen science and storytelling in modern exploration

Favourite explorer movie

• The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou

Learn more:

• Project and documentary: freezethefuture.com
• More conversations with explorer and diver Jill Heinerth

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