Martin Alexander Ernst " Marty " Bergmann ( 19 February 1956 – 20 August 2011 ) was a Canadian scientist and public servant . A marine biologist by training , Bergmann spent 24 years with the Canadian federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans , latterly as Director of the Centre of Expertise for Arctic Aquatic Research Excellence , before taking up the position of head of Natural Resources Canada 's Polar Continental Shelf Program . During his career in the Public Service of Canada Bergmann was instrumental in greatly expanding Canada 's Arctic research capabilities . He was a leading player in establishing the International Polar Year of 2007 – 2008 , and has been called a " leading and relentless evangelist in national and international scientific circles " by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society ( RCGS ) . He died in the crash of First Air Flight 6560 near Resolute , Nunavut , on 20 August 2011 . Since his death numerous memorials have been made to Bergmann , including the naming of the Arctic Research Foundation research vessel '' Martin Bergmann '' , the establishment of the RCGS 's '' Martin Bergmann Medal '' , and the naming of a 375 million year-old fossil fish species found in Nunavut , '' Holoptychius bergmanni '' , in recognition of his " scientific endeavors that communicated the relevance of the Arctic region to a global audience . "
First Air Flight 6560
First Air Flight 6560
Marty Bergmann