Congratulations to Dr. William Cheung who has been awarded the UBC Alumni Achievements Award for Research and Innovation.
This award, presented by alumniUBC, recognizes the important professional and community contributions that UBC alumni are making to the world and society, and celebrate and honour alumni who have consistently demonstrated outstanding achievements in research and innovation that has had major social impact.
Dr. Cheung is a professor and Director of the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries. He is also the Principal Investigator of the Changing Ocean Research Unit, and serves as co-Director for
the Solving the Sustainability Challenges at the Food-Climate-Biodiversity Nexus partnership. An international leader in developing and using scenarios and models to explore solution options and pathways to desirable and sustainable ocean futures, his work addresses policy-relevant research questions and cuts across multiple disciplines, from oceanography to ecology, economics and social sciences. He recently received a Doctor Honoris Causa – France’s highest education honor – from the Institute Agro-Rennes, and has received multiple international and national awards and recognitions, including the Prix d’Excellence Award of the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas, the E. R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship, and being named as one of the top 20 world’s most influential climate scientists, by Reuters.
As one of his nominators’ said, “the world is at a crossroads for the oceans’ sustainability under climate change; we need new scientific knowledge to understand and identify effective solutions to address climate change impacts on marine biodiversity and fisheries. Throughout his career, William has contributed significantly to the science of climate change providing essential knowledge relevant to international and regional policymaking related to climate change and fisheries. These include understanding the effects of global change on marine biodiversity and fisheries, the potential adaptation and mitigation options to ensure ocean sustainability, and the co-benefits and trade-offs of these options for marine conservation and fisheries management.”
Dr. Cheung will receive his award at the UBC Alumni Achievements Awards Gala on Tuesday, November 19, 2024.