Dr. Thierry Chopin was born and educated in France. He obtained his Doctorate from the University of Western Brittany, Brest, France. He moved to Canada in 1989 and is presently Professor of Marine Biology at the University of New Brunswick in Saint John.
Dr. Chopin’s research focuses on the ecophysiology, biochemistry and cultivation of seaweeds of commercial value and the development of Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) systems for environmental sustainability (nutrient biomitigation and other ecosystem services, and green technologies for improved ecosystem health), economic stability (improved output, product diversification, risk reduction and job creation in coastal communities) and societal acceptability (better management practices, improved regulatory governance and appreciation of differentiated and safe products).
Dr. Chopin has published 124 refereed papers, 22 book chapters, 43 non-refereed publications, 386 abstracts (presented at 237 scientific meetings in 36 countries on 6 continents), 1 English/French DVD, 2 YouTube videos and has frequent contacts with the media (magazine articles, newspapers/radio/TV interviews and documentaries). He has given 90 invited seminars in 13 countries.
Dr. Chopin is the Scientific Director of the Canadian Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture Network (CIMTAN), an interdisciplinary strategic network of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
He is Past President of the Aquaculture Association of Canada, the Phycological Society of America and the International Seaweed Association (of which he is now the General Secretary). He is an advisor to the International Foundation for Science and a member of the Editorial Boards of the journals Aquaculture International, Perspectives in Phycology and European Journal of Phycology, and of the professional magazine Fish Farming International.
Dr. Chopin is the recipient of the NSERC Synergy Award for Innovation, the Aquaculture Association of Canada Research Award of Excellence, the New Brunswick BioSciences Achievement Award, the R3 (Research, Results, Recognition) Award of the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation and the Simply the Best Award of the UNB Associated Alumni.
Dr. Chopin is also Honorary Consul of France and Chevalier in the Ordre National du Mérite and in the Ordre des Palmes Académiques.