Forestry & Environmental Management

R. Allen Curry

University of New Brunswick Award for Excellence in Research

R. Allen Curry of the faculties of science and forestry and environmental management will receive the University of New Brunswick Award for Excellence in Research at UNB’s 65th Convocation.

Dr. Curry joined the University of New Brunswick in 1995 and is currently a professor of biology and forestry and environmental management. A scholar in aquatic ecology and ecohydrology, his research interests include freshwater, estuary, and coral reef sciences including the ecology of fishes, food webs, and rivers and their landscapes.

Having received a bachelor of environmental science (honours) from the University of Waterloo in 1985, Dr. Curry went on to receive a master of science in watershed ecosystems from Trent University. In 1993, he received his PhD in zoology from the University of Guelph.

Dr. Curry thoughtfully approaches his research with the philosophy that while understanding the biological and hydrological processes are critical, it is also crucial for scientists to tackle today’s societal issues.

This innovative approach to the study of the aquatic sciences, along with his passionate interest in the field, has contributed to Dr. Curry’s international reputation as a highly-respected researcher and policy-maker. Throughout his career, he has published dozens of peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and provincial and national industry reports, many of which are referred to by academics, governments and institutions across the country and around the world.

For 10 years, Dr. Curry served as director of the Canadian Rivers Institute, during which time he brought the Institute to international attention. Today, he continues as a Fellow of the Institute, working to make significant contributions toward the advancement of the aquatic sciences.

As a leading expert in aquatic biology, Dr. Curry holds the Cloverleaf/Department of Energy Resource Development Professorship in Recreational Fisheries, is assistant director to the NB Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, and is a lead investigator in the Mactaquac Aquatic Ecosystem Study in which his findings will serve as a global precedent for dam assessment.

Dr. Curry tirelessly continues to serve the national and international research community in a number of roles, including as a member of four national scientific advisory boards, as past editor of the prestigious journal of the American Fisheries Society, and as a trusted reviewer for granting agencies, governments and academic journals.

This award is a fitting tribute to a remarkable scholar whose outstanding leadership and groundbreaking research has and continues to inform and positively impact the aquatic sciences and policy.

The UNB Award for Excellence in Research is intended to honour faculty who are representative of outstanding research, scholarly, or creative achievements at the University of New Brunswick. The University of New Brunswick Award for Excellence in Research promotes and celebrates an environment that supports intellectual inquiry and discovery.

Photo credit (Allen Curry): Rob Blanchard/Photo UNB