UCLA International Institute, September 12, 2019 — Distinguished Professor of Geography Glen MacDonald, director of the UCLA Canadian Studies Program, has been elected a fellow of the prestigious Royal Society of Canada (RSC). MacDonald is John Muir Memorial Chair of the department of geography; director, White Mountain Research Center, and faculty director, Water Resources Group, at the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, where he previously served as director. He is also former president of the American Association of Geographers.

The UCLA professor is one of 93 new fellows named to the RSC Academies of Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences and Science — elected by their peers for outstanding scholarly, scientific and artistic achievement.

MacDonald teaches in the departments of geography and ecology and evolutionary biology at UCLA. He is well-known for his work in developing long records of climatic change to address the impacts of climate change on ecosystems, as well as his research on societal vulnerability and evolutionary and extinction dynamics.

His studies range from Arctic warming, the hydroclimatology of western North America and sea level rise to the fate of coastal marshes, based on work in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. He is the author of over 180 scientific and popular press pieces and an award-winning book, "Biogeography: Introduction to Space, Time and Life" (Wiley), the second edition of which is expected out in 2020.

“The Royal Society of Canada is extremely fortunate to welcome these exceptionally talented scholars, artists and scientists as new members of the society. They have made outstanding contributions to their fields and to Canada’s intellectual and artistic breadth, and are making a tremendously positive impact on the world. We recognize them for all that they have done, and indeed will continue to do, to advance scholarly and public life in Canada and around the world,” says RSC President Chad Gaffield.

New fellows and members of the RSC College will be officially welcomed in November 2019 at the RSC Celebration of Excellence and Engagement in Ottawa.

Founded in 1882, the Royal Society of Canada comprises the Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences and the College of New Scholars Artists and Scientists. RSC recognizes excellence, advises the government and the larger society and promotes a culture of knowledge and innovation in Canada and with other national academies around the world.