Research Excellence

Dr. Amanda Vincent receives the 2021 Indianapolis Prize ©Chris Bergin

Faculty members, research associates, postdoctoral fellows, and students at the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries have been recognized by UBC, provincially, nationally, and internationally for their outstanding scholarship and research excellence.

American Academy of Microbiology

  • Dr. Curtis Suttle was inducted as a Fellow in 2014.

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

  • Dr. Rashid Sumaila was inducted as an AAAS Fellow in 2023.
  • Dr. Daniel Pauly was inducted as an AAAS Fellow in 2014.

American Fisheries Society

  • Dr. Villy Christensen was inducted as a Fellow in 2021.
  • Dr. Daniel Pauly was inducted as a Fellow in 2015.

Association of the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO)

  • Dr. Curtis Suttle was inducted as a Sustaining Fellow in 2017.

Canadian Institute for Advanced Research

  • Dr. Curtis Suttle was named Fellow in Program in Integrated Microbial Biodiversity (2007 to present).

Environmental Leadership Program (ELP)

  • Dr. Kai Chan named a Fellow in 2004.

Institute of Advanced Studies, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

  • Dr. Curtis Suttle named as Fellow (2014-2018).

Leopold Leadership

  • Dr. Kai Chan named a Leopold Leadership Fellow in 2013.
  • Dr. Rashid Sumaila named a Leopold Leadership Fellow in 2009.
  • Dr. Simon Donner named a Leopold Leadership Fellow in 2009.

Pacific Wildlife Federation

  • Dr. Andrew Trites named as a Fellow in 2010.

Pierre Elliot Trudeau Foundation Fellow

  • Dr. Rashid Sumaila was inducted as a Fellow in 2023.

Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation
This is considered the world’s pre-eminent award in marine conservation.

  • Dr. Rashid Sumaila named Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation in 2008.
  • Dr. Carl Walters named Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation in 2001.
  • Dr. Amanda Vincent named Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation in 2000.

Royal Geographical Society

  • Dr. Amanda Vincent named as a Fellow in 1995.

Royal Society of Canada

  • Dr. Villy Christensen was inducted as a Fellow in 2022
  • Dr. Amanda Vincent was inducted as a Fellow in 2020
  • Dr. Rashid Sumaila was inducted as a Fellow in 2019
  • Dr. William Cheung was named to RSC’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists in 2018
  • Dr. Kai Chan was named to RSC’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists in 2017
  • Dr. Curtis Suttle was inducted as a Fellow in 2008.
  • Dr. Daniel Pauly was inducted as an Academy of Science Fellow in 2003.
  • Dr. Carl Walters was inducted in 1998.

Zoological Society of London

  • Dr. Amanda Vincent named as a Conservation Fellow in 2003.

Canada Research Chairs
The Canada Research Chairs Program invests $300 million a year to attract and retain some of the world's most accomplished and promising minds.

  • Dr. Andrea Reid, Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Fisheries Science (Tier II)
  • Dr. Marie Auger-Méthé, Canada Research Chair in Statistical Ecology (Tier II)
  • Dr. U. Rashid Sumaila, Canada Research Chair in Interdisciplinary Ocean and Fisheries Economics (Tier I)
  • Dr. William Cheung, Canada Research Chair in Ocean Sustainability and Global Change (Tier II)
  • Dr. Murdoch McAllister, Canada Research Chair in Fisheries Assessment and Statistics (Tier II), 2006-2016
  • Dr. Kai Chan, Canada Research Chair in Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (Tier II), 2006-2016
  • Dr. Amanda Vincent, Canada Research Chair in Marine Conservation (Tier II), 2002-2012

Johan Hjort Chairs
Johan Hjort Chairs are internationally recognized researchers selected by the Nordic Centre for Research on Marine Ecosystems and Resources under Climate Change (NorMER) for their contribution to marine science.

  • Dr. Rashid Sumaila (2012).

Fulbright Visiting Research Chairs

  • Dr. Kai Chan (2012).

Dr. W.F. James Chair of Studies in the Pure and Applied Sciences

Xiamen University Carbon Chair

  • Dr. Curtis Suttle was named Carbon Chair, by the Xiamen University, Xiamen, China, November 2015 - 2018

2023

  • Dr. Rashid Sumaila are received the Prince Albert I Grand Medal in the Science category from the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco
  • Dr. Daniel Pauly and Dr. Rashid Sumaila are co-recipients of the 2023 Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement.
  • Dr. Andrea Reid and postdoctoral fellow Dr. Harmony Martell were named as members of the Explorers Club 50, class of 2023.
  • Dr. Amanda Vincent was awarded the fifth Dawkins Prize for Conservation and Animal Welfare by Balliol College, University of Oxford.

2021

  • Dr. Daniel Pauly was honoured with the Fisheries Society of the British Isles (FSBI)'s highest honour: the Beverton Medal
  • Dr. Amanda Vincent won the Indianapolis Prize for animal conservation. She is the first marine conservationist to win this prize, considered the 'Nobel Prize' for conservation.

2020

  • Dr. Villy Christensen was honoured with the American Fisheries Society's Award of Excellence

2019

2018

  • Dr. Amanda Vincent won the Le Cren Award from the Fisheries Society of the British Isles (FSBI) for her lifelong contribution to all aspects of the study of fish biology and/or fisheries science, with a focus on conservation, training or public understanding of the discipline.
  • Dr. Curtis Suttle won the Friedrich Loeffler Award and gave the related Annual Lecture, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany, on June 25, 2018
  • Dr. David Rosen was made an Honorary Life Member of the Comparative Nutrition Society for his outstanding contributions.
  • Postdoctoral fellow, Dr. Nathan Bennett 2018 Early Career Conservationist award from the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB).

2017

  • Dr. Rashid Sumaila won the Volvo Environment Prize.
  • Dr. William Cheung won the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), Prix d’Excellence.
  • Dr. Daniel Pauly was named Chevalier de la Légion D’Honneur by the Government of France.
  • FishBase Consortium won the Le Cren Award from the Fisheries Society of the British Isles (FSBI). This is given to a group that has made a lifelong contribution to all aspects of the study of fish biology and/or fisheries science with a focus on conservation, training or public understanding of the discipline. Dr. Daniel Pauly had a founding role in the creation of FishBase and he and Dr. Maria (Deng) Palomares now represent the UBC IOF node in the FishBase Consortium, the international body he created to administer the enterprise.
  • Dr. Mimi Lam was awarded the Conservation Beacon Award from the Society for Conservation Biology.
  • Dr. Rashid Sumaila was awarded the Peter Benchley Ocean Award for Excellence in Science. These awards are the world’s preeminent ocean awards and are unique in acknowledging outstanding achievement across many sectors of society leading to the protection of our ocean, coasts and the communities that depend on them.
  • Drs. Daniel Pauly and Dirk Zeller were awarded the Ocean Award in the Science category. Ocean Awards are organized by the Blue Marine Foundation and Boat International.

2016

2015

  • Dr. Daniel Pauly won the Peter Benchley Ocean Award for Excellence in Science. These awards are the world’s preeminent ocean awards and are unique in acknowledging outstanding achievement across many sectors of society leading to the protection of our ocean, coasts and the communities that depend on them.

2014

  • Dr. Carl Walters won the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), Prix d’Excellence.

2013

2012

2011

2010

  • Dr. Amanda Vincent was one of six finalists for the global 2010 Indianapolis Prize for significant achievement in animal conservation.

2009

  • Dr. Carl Walters was honoured with the American Fisheries Society's Award of Excellence

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

  • Dr. Tony Pitcher won the The Beverton Medal from The Fisheries Society of British Isles, for lifetime contributions to the field.

2001

2023

  • Dr. Andrea Reid won the Newman Award for Excellence in Conservation and Research from the Raincoast Conservation Foundation, for highly significant recent work and/or an entire career of important, field-leading contributions in ocean research.

2022

  • Dr. Rashid Sumaila won the Miroslaw Romanowski Medal for scientific work relating to environmental problems, from the Royal Society of Canada.
  • PhD student Jessica Schaub won the Hugh Morris Fellowship from the Kimberley Foundation

2021

  • Dr. Rashid Sumaila won the Impact Award, Partnership Category, from SSHRC
  • PhD student Jessica Schaub won the Vanier Scholarship
  • Postdoctoral Fellow Kyra St. Pierre won the Banting Fellowship

2020

  • Dr. William Cheung won a E.W.R. Steacie Fellowship from NSERC

2019

  • Dr. Carl Walters was appointed to the Order of British Columbia
  • Dr. Rashid Sumaila wins Murray A. Newman Research Award

2018

  • Dr. William Cheung was named to Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists in 2017
  • Dr. Andrew Trites received the Timothy R. Parsons Medal (Excellence in Ocean Sciences) from Fisheries and Oceans Canada
  • Dr. William Cheung was named the Ehor Boyanowsky Academic of the Year Award winner by the Confederation of University Faculty Associations of British Columbia (CUFA BC)

2017

  • Dr. Kai Chan was named to Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists in 2017
  • Dr. Daniel Pauly was awarded the 2017 Sir John William Dawson Medal, by the Royal Society of Canada
  • Dr. Daniel Pauly was named to 2017 Scientist of the Year by Radio Canada

2016

2015

2014

2012

  • Dr. Kai Chan named a Fulbright Canada Occasional Lecturer.

2011

2010

  • Dr. Curtis Suttle won the A.G. Huntsman Award for Excellence in Marine Science from the A.G. Huntsman Foundation and the Royal Society of Canada.

2007

2005

  • Dr. Carl Walters won the Murray A. Newman Award for Excellence in Marine Conservation Research from the Vancouver Aquarium.

2001

  • Dr. Daniel Pauly won the Murray A. Newman Award for Excellence in Marine Conservation Research from the Vancouver Aquarium.

2024

  • Dr. William Cheung has been awarded a Doctor Honoris Causa degree (the highest degree in French higher education), from France’s Institut Agro (Rennes)

2023

  • Dr. Daniel Pauly has been granted an honorary doctorate from the University of Crete's Department of Biology, School of Applied Sciences and Technology

2021

  • Dr. Daniel Pauly was awarded the the Prof. N. Balakrishnan Nair Memorial International Fisheries Guru Award, from the University of Kerala’s Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, for his notable contributions to fisheries science

2016

  • Dr. Rashid Sumaila was named as a Hokkaido University Ambassador (2016-2019)
  • Dr. Tony Pitcher was named as a Hjort Scholar by Norway's Hjort Centre for Marine Ecosystem Dynamics. Hjort Scholars are gifted scientists deemed to promote innovative understanding of marine ecosystem dynamics.
  • Dr. Curtis Suttle was named Ocean Carbon Chair Professor by Xiamen University.

2014

  • Dr. Curtis Suttle was named Senior Visiting Fellow of the Institute for Advanced Studies, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (2014 to present).

2012

  • Dr. Dianne Newell was appointed Visiting Fellow (without term) by the Institute for Advanced Study, Technical University of Munich.
  • Dr. Dianne Newell was appointed Research Fellow of the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS), Stellenbosch, South Africa.

2010

  • Dr. Curtis Suttle was named Zheng Zhong Distinguished Visiting Fellow, Xiamen University.

Honorary Doctorates
2023

  • Dr. Daniel Pauly has been granted an honorary doctorate from the University of Crete's Department of Biology, School of Applied Sciences and Technology

2014

  • Dr. Daniel Pauly received a Honorary Doctorate from the Universidad de Cadiz, Spain.

2013

  • Dr. Daniel Pauly received a Honorary Doctorate from the Universidad de Alicante, Spain.

2010

  • Dr. Daniel Pauly received a Honorary Doctorate – Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal.

2008

  • Dr. Daniel Pauly received a Honorary Doctorate- Wageningen University, The Netherlands.
  • Dr. Daniel Pauly received a Honorary Doctorate- Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium.

2007

  • Dr. Daniel Pauly received a Honorary Doctorate, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.

2005

  • Dr. Daniel Pauly received a Honorary Doctorate - Department of Biology, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki.

2021

  • Dr. Rashid Sumaila was named a University Killam Professor by the University of British Columbia. This is the highest honour UBC can bestow on a faculty member.
  • Dr. Curtis Suttle was named a Distinguished University Professor by the University of British Columbia.

2019

  • Dr. Curtis Suttle received a Wall Scholar Award from the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies.
  • Dr. William Cheung wins a Killam Faculty Research Fellowship

2018

2017

  • Dr. William Cheung received a Wall Scholar Award from the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies.
  • Dr. Curtis Suttle was named Distinguished University Scholar, University of British Columbia, March 2017.

2016

  • Dr. Rashid Sumaila won the Killam Faculty Research Prize for "outstanding research and scholarly contributions".
  • Dr. Daniel Pauly was named as a University Killam Professor by the University of British Columbia. This is the highest honour UBC can bestow on a faculty member.
  • Dr. Chris Harley received a Wall Scholar Award from the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies.
  • Dr. Kai Chan received the Dean's Commendation for Teaching from the Faculty of Medicine (2015/6)

2015

  • Dr. Chris Harley received a Wall Scholar Award from the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies.

2013

  • Dr. Simon Donner received the President's Award for Public Education through the Media from the University of British Columbia.
  • Dr. Simon Donner received a Killam Faculty Research Prize from the University of British Columbia.
  • Dr. Rashid Sumaila received the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies International Roundtable Award.

2012

  • Dr. Daniel Pauly, Dirk Zeller, Ar’ash Tavakolie and the Sea Around Us team received an Innovative Dissemination of Research Award from the UBC Library for the Sea Around Us Project portal.
  • Dr. Curtis Suttle received a Killam Faculty Research Prize from the University of British Columbia.

2010

  • Dr. Simon Donner named Early Career Scholar by UBC's Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies.

2009

  • Dr. Carl Walters won the UBC Killam Teaching Prize.

2008

  • Dr. Tony Pitcher named Distinguished Scholar-In-Residence by UBC's Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies.
  • Dr. Kai Chan received an Office of the VP Research Proposal Development Award.

2007

  • Dr. Rashid Sumaila named Senior Early Career Scholar by UBC's Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies.

2006

  • Dr. Kai Chan named Early Career Scholar by UBC's Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies.

2005

  • Dr. Dianne Newell received UBC's Izaak Walton Killam Research Prize in recognition of outstanding research and scholarly contributions.

2003

  • Dr. Daniel Pauly named as a Distinguished University Scholar, UBC.

2002

  • Dr. Dianne Newell was named Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence by UBC's Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies.

2024

  • Dr. Gideon Mordecai was one of the authors on "Is scientific inquiry still compatible with government control? A quarter century later", with was most-read article in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (CJFAS) in 2023

2023

  • Dr. Marie Auger-Methe's paper "A guide to state-space modeling of ecological time series" was one of Wiley's Top Cited papers of 2021-2022.

2021

  • Dr. William Cheung, Dr. Daniel Pauly and Dr. Rashid Sumaila are among the Highly Cited Researchers™ of 2021, according to Clarivate/Web of Science
  • Dr. Curtis Suttle won the John H. Martin Award from the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO), for his 1999 article (co-authored with Dr. Steven Wilhelm (University of Tennessee)), "Viruses and nutrient cycles in the sea."

2010

  • Dr. Rashid Sumaila Top 10 most cited articles in the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, from 2005-2010. Awarded by Elsevier Publishers.
  • Dr. Rashid Sumaila and Sebastian Villasante won the JIFRS Yamamoto Award, First Prize for their paper: “Estimating the Economic Benefits of Cooperative and Non-cooperative Management of Illex Argentinus Fishery in the Patagonian Marine Ecosystem”. Awarded by the International Institute of Fisheries Economics and Trade.

1994

  • Dr. Dianne Newell received the Clio Award from the Canadian Historical Association for Tangled Webs of History: Indians and the Law in Canada's Pacific Coast Fisheries (UTP, 1993).
  • Dr. Dianne Newell received the Keith Matthew Prize by the Canadian Nautical Research Society for Tangled Webs of History: Indians and the Law in Canada's Pacific Coast Fisheries (UTP, 1993).

2024

  • Dr. Rashid Sumaila was named a "global champion of the oceans," and calling him one of the 100 most influential Africans of 2023 (NewAfrican Magazine).

2023

  • Dr. Maria ‘Deng’ Palomares, has been invited to become a member of the international steering committee for the “Sustainability, Predictability and Resilience of Marine Ecosystems” (SUPREME) program, which is led by the United States of America’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and endorsed by the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (UNDOS).
  • Dr. William Cheung was appointed Editor-in-Chief of the newly launched Discover Oceans journal, part of the Springer Nature family, which is dedicated to research on all fields relevant to oceanography and marine sciences.
  • Dr. Rashid Sumaila was appointed co-Editor in Chief of the newly launched npj Ocean Sustainability journal, part of the Nature Group family, which is dedicated to research on the multiple dimensions of ocean sustainability.

2022

  • Dr. Simon Donner was appointed to the Net-Zero Advisory Body (NZAB), which will give advice on how Canada can achieve its goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

2021

  • Dr. Curtis Suttle was appointed Associate Dean Engagement, Faculty of Science, University of British Columbia

2020

  • Dr. Rashid Sumaila named Distinguished International Professor by the National University of Malaysia

2019

2018

2017

  • Dr. Amanda Vincent was appointed to the IUCN Species Survival Commission Steering Committee.

2016

  • Dr. Curtis Suttle gave the Sidney E. Grossberg Lecture at the 35th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Virology.
  • Dr. David Rosen was elected President of the Comparative Nutrition Society.
  • Dr. Kai Chan was appointed as Coordinating Lead Author for The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), for the global assessment.

2012

  • Dr. Amanda Vincent featured in Wildlife Heroes: 40 Leading Conservationists and the Animals They Are Committed to Saving. Running Press. (Scardina, J. and J. Flocken. 2012.)This book received excellent reviews and the American Zoo & Aquarium Association (AZA) distributed it to all U.S. Senators.

2010

2006

  • Dr. Amanda Vincent named Honorary Professor, Department of Ecology & Biodiversity, The University of Hong Kong.

2005

2003

2002

  • Dr. Daniel Pauly named as a Honorary Professor by the Kiel University, Germany.

2000

  • Dr. Amanda Vincent named as La Presse Personality of the Year - Humanities and Social Sciences, Science and Technology category.

1999

  • Dr. Amanda Vincent named as one of TIME Magazine Canada "25 Leaders for the 21st Century".