Forest ecologist Suzanne Simard to receive honorary degree

We are pleased to announce Dr. Suzanne Simard will receive her honorary degree at Fall Convocation. Her SOLD OUT Trees Talk: A Conversation with Dr. Suzanne Simard will take place November 13, 4:00 p.m. at the Dogwood Auditorium on campus. 

Named to Time’s 100 most influential people 2024 list – in the icon category – Suzanne Simard, UBC professor and leader of The Mother Tree Project will also be named Royal Roads University's Honorary Doctorate recipient at the university's fall 2024 convocation ceremony.

An honorary degree is the university’s highest honour awarded to people of merit who reflect Royal Roads University's vision and values, and have achieved a significant record of success and community service.

Simard, known for researching forest renewal practices that protect biodiversity against climate change, has been published widely, with over 200 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals, including Nature, Ecology, and Global Biology. She is also editor of the book Climate Change and Variability. 

Her book, Finding the Mother Tree, brings us into the intimate world of trees, exploring the ways in which trees learn and adapt their behaviors, remember the past, demonstrate agency over the future, and cooperate with a sophistication typically ascribed to humans. 

“Suzanne Simard’s work shines a spotlight on the complexity and interconnectedness of our forests,” says Philip Steenkamp, president and vice-chancellor of Royal Roads University. “Her work shows the importance of conservation efforts and preserving the ecology and biodiversity of our natural world. We admire her commitment to climate action and aspire to emulate this passion in our own climate action efforts.”

Simard’s research has been communicated broadly through TED Talks and TED Experiences, as well as articles and interviews in The New Yorker, National Geographic, The Globe and Mail, NPR, CNN, CBC, and many more. Her sold out Changemakers Speakers Series event captivated a Victoria audience in 2023.

Read or watch more with Dr. Simard:

RRU Changemakers Speaker Series Suzanne Simard presentation

RRU News profile Suzanne Simard