Dr. Suzanne Simard, professor in the Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia, is being honored with the Canadian Institute of Forestry-Institut forestier du Canada’s (CIF-IFC) Canadian Forestry Scientific Award for her groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of forests. Her innovative research has revolutionized how we perceive forest ecosystems and significantly advanced scientific studies on mycorrhizal networks across diverse biomes.
Dr. Simard’s development of the Mother Tree Project and her leadership in establishing the Mother Tree Network are among her exemplary achievements. Her influence extends beyond the scientific community by means of extensive public engagement, including a New York Times best-selling memoir and widely viewed TED Talks. These efforts have profoundly shaped contemporary approaches to forest management and conservation.
In addition to scientific and public engagement, Dr. Simard’s advocacy for Indigenous communities, gender equity, and dedication to mentoring future Registered Professional Foresters (RPFs) further underscores her career contributions.
Celebrating Dr. Simard’s Continued Impact in Forest SciencesThis latest honor is one of many that underscore Dr. Simard’s impact in forest sciences and literature. In June 2024, she received the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens’ Better Earth Award and was recently recognized as an Oregon State University Alumni Fellow.
Over the course of her career, Dr. Simard has also been celebrated with prestigious academic awards, such as the 2023 Kew International Medal recognizing significant advancements in our understanding of plants and fungi, and the 2022 Lawson Medal acknowledging individuals who have made outstanding and sustained contributions to the field of botany in Canada.
Beyond academia, Dr. Simard’s influence extends into the literary world, where her work has reached international audiences. Her book Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest garnered widespread acclaim, winning awards like the 2023 Lewis Thomas Prize, cementing her not only as a scientific authority but also an engaging storyteller.
About the CIF-IFC Canadian Forestry Scientific Achievement AwardThis national award honors individuals for their groundbreaking and exceptional advancements to forestry research in Canada.
Dr. Simard joins a distinguished lineage of Canadian Forestry Scientific Achievement Award honorees from the UBC Faculty of Forestry, including Forest Conservation Sciences Department head Dr. Richard Hamelin, and esteemed colleagues Dr. Lori Daniels, Dr. Nicholas Coops and others.
About the CIF-IFCEach year, the CIF-IFC awards honors to individuals who have made exceptional and distinctive advancements to Canadian forestry.
This year, the CIF-IFC Annual National Awards ceremony was held in St. Johns Newfoundland and Labrador.