Ian McTaggart-Cowan

b. 1910

Wildlife ecology explores the habits and distribution of wild animal species. Ian was a pioneering wildlife ecologist, with the foresight to apply his brilliant expertise to nature conservation and public service. A scholar and scientist with inspiring devotion to his students, his animal subjects and the public, Ian's contributions are far-reaching. Over one hundred television nature documentaries, the foundation and functioning of several conservation organizations, sound wildlife management strategies including national parks and the training and mentorship of a generation of scientists and conservationists in BC are products of his life's work.

Adapted from a photo of Ian at the Elders Council for Parks gathering in 2004
(Photo courtesy of Rod Silver)

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Ian has been a contributor to many books and encyclopedias, including The Birds of British Columbia (UBC Press) and Wildlife Conservation Policy (Detselig Enterprises).

Affiliations:

• National Research Council of Canada - founding member and first Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Wildlife Research
• Environment Council of Canada - Chair
• Public Advisory Board of the B.C. Habitat Conservation Trust Fund - Founding Chair
• Board of Governors of the Arctic Institute of North America - Chair
• Canadian Committee on Whales and Whaling - Chair
• International Union for the Conservation of Nature - Vice President
• Select Committee on National Parks for the United States Secretary of the Interior
• The Nature Trust of British Columbia - Director
• University of Victoria - Chancellor 1979-1984
• UBC - Chair of zoology department, Dean of Graduate Studies
• College Council of B.C. - Chair
• Honourary President of the Federation of BC Naturalists

Awards:

• Order of Canada 1970
• Order of British Columbia 1991
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
• Leopold Medal of the Wildlife Society
• Fry Medal of the Canadian Society of Zoologists
• Einarsen Award in Conservation by the Northwest Section of the Wildlife Society
• J. Dewey Soper Award by the Alberta Society of Professional Biologists.