Michael Peers '12, M.Sc., Environmental and Life Sciences, Peterborough, Ontario

“For me, the best part of Trent is the fact that nature is all around you on campus,” said Michael Peers, Trent University’s newest recipient of the Governor General’s Gold Medal. “The fact that you can meet with world-class researchers while also living in a smaller city, close to the outdoors makes Trent University a great place for a graduate degree.”

After completing an undergraduate degree in Biology at Trent, Michael knew he had already found an ideal institution with the required expertise to complete his master’s thesis. His work examines how human influences can impact nature and how to protect species over the long-term, with a specific focus on ensuring the successful sustainability of planned reintroductions of species under climate change.

 “I have been interested in nature my whole life, but this interest developed into a passion during my undergraduate degree at Trent,” reveals Michael.  “Once I started my Honours thesis I knew I wanted to continue in research for the rest of my life.”

Michael believes Trent provides an amazing opportunity to work with a large number of highly respected and talented professors and graduate students, while remaining a small university. He feels his master’s degree would not have been possible without the support of his supervisor Dr. Dennis Murray, Canada research chair in integrative wildlife conservation bioinformatics, and ecological modelling and professor of Biology at Trent, who provided an open door policy while promoting an independent work environment.  “My development as an ecologist was greatly advanced by being in his lab,” states Michael.

He also thanks Dr. Daniel Thornton, a former post-doctoral fellow in Prof. Murray’s lab and adjunct assistant professor at Washington State University for his guidance.

The Governor General’s Gold Medal, awarded to the student with the highest academic standing on graduation in the Master’s and Doctoral degree programs, is the newest addition to Michael’s long list of awards received during his graduate studies.

“The Governor General’s Gold Medal is definitely a highlight from my academic experience,” said Michael. “To be given an award with such a long, prestigious history is an amazing feeling and it is something I will cherish forever.”
Michael states his interests that developed at Trent have transferred over to his Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta, which focuses on the effects of climate change on the mammals of the boreal forest, specifically snowshoe hares. He is currently conducting field work in the Yukon.

Michael wants to apply his knowledge from Trent to improve understanding of how species may respond to climate change and to assist future conservation efforts. He hopes the information gathered during his degree can be applied to conservation management decisions, and will provide a launching pad for him to continue research on this topic.

Awards and Scholarships received at Trent University:

• Governor General’s Gold Medal (2015)
• NSERC Alexander Graham Bell Graduate Scholarship (2013, 2014)
• Edwin William Curtin and Irene Elizabeth Curtin Graduate Scholarship (2014)
• David and Joyce Woods Graduate Scholarship (2014)
• Queen Elizabeth II Scholarship for Science and Technology (2012, 2013)