Meet the principal

Background

Dr. Emma Despland joined the Science College as a Fellow in 2005 and became the College's seventh principal in 2021. Along with being a full professor in the Department of Biology and a Fellow of the Loyola Sustainability Research Centre (LSRC), she is also the mother of three children.

Research focus

Her research is focused mainly on plant-insect interactions, the cornerstone of all terrestrial ecosystems, and asks questions that include:

• Why insects choose to eat the plants they do
• How social interactions contribute to the survival of larval insects
• How insect outbreaks explode and then collapse

Academic interests

Her academic interests are broad, diverse, multidisciplinary and encompass:

• Insect nutrition and physiology
• Animal behaviour
• Chemical ecology
• Outbreak dynamics and nature conservation

Dr. Despland is also interested in how scientists contribute to shaping policy, particularly in the context of the current climate and biodiversity crises.

In addition, she is also deeply committed to helping people develop a connection to the natural world through nature education.

Vision for the College

Dr. Despland aims to foster an environment that is both supportive and stimulating, allowing students to develop to their full potential, spread their wings and broaden their horizons. In that regard, she beleives the College serves as an incubator for nurturing science talent from non-traditional backgrounds.

Dr. Despland's philosophy is best explained in her own words: "I believe there is strength in diversity and that we can go farther together than individually."