Dr. Gerard Courtin received his B.Sc. (Forestry) from the University of New Brunswick, and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Botany from the University of Illinois. He joined the Department of Biology in 1968 and began semi-retirement in 2001. His specialization in plant ecology and physiology, especially in terms of stressed ecosystems, has provided the opportunity for field study from the High Arctic to the Tropics. Dr. Courtin supervised 30 graduate students and numerous undergraduate thesis students. Until retirement he coordinated the Environmental Earth Science Programme. He continues to teach BIOL 3047 Bioclimatology, BIOL 3067 Winter Ecology, ENES 4105/4205 Environmental Earth Science Thesis, and has taught intensive field courses in the United States for Cornell/UNH’s Shoals Marine Laboratory and Sterling College for the past 20 years. Dr. Courtin’s passion for teaching earned him both the Teaching Excellence Award from Laurentian University and an OCUFA citation for Outstanding Contribution to University Teaching in 2000.

Current Research Interests:

Dr. Courtin’s expertise has lent itself, in recent years, to the field of Forensic Botany and Ecology, and he has been involved in case work through his extensive knowledge of the natural environment. He is actively researching and developing techniques to assist in the handling and identification of plant fragments. Dr. Courtin holds Professor Emeritus status in both the Department of Biology and the Department of Forensic Science.

Courses:

Courses being taught 2011:

FORS 4136 Forensic Botany