The Inuvik Research Centre has been providing support for scientific research in the NWT and Northern Yukon since 1964, first as a facility of Indian and Northern Affairs, later as part of the Science Institute of the NWT, and at present as one of three centres of the Aurora Research Institute, a part of Aurora College. The Science Institute of the Northwest 
Territories (SINT) was created by the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) in 1984. Originally headquartered in Yellowknife, SINT was established as a resource for the GNWT in advising on matters related to science, technology and research. In 1984, the federal government turned over the research centres in Inuvik, Iqualuit and Igloolik to SINT. In 1994, SINT merged with Aurora College and became the Aurora Research Institute (ARI).
As a branch of Aurora College, the Aurora Research Institute (ARI) has a mission to develop “our northern society through excellence in education, training and research that is culturally sensitive and responsive to the people we serve.” Through facilitating communication between researchers and residents, and independent research endeavours, ARI works hard to achieve these goals.