What the University of Saskatchewan calls, “a rising star in conservation science,” has been hired as the Ducks Unlimited Canada Endowed Chair in Wetland and Waterfowl Conservation at the University of Saskatchewan.

Mitch Weegman, an avian ecologist, will teach and mentor USask students while delivering research that the university says will address some of the most pressing environmental issues of our time.

Weegman says, “Launching the chair is the honour of my lifetime and I’m looking forward to getting started.” He will begin his role in USask’s Department of Biology on July 1st.

The new endowed chair is the first of its kind in Canada. It’s the result of a partnership between Ducks Unlimited and USask.

Weegman comes from the University of Missouri, where he served as assistant professor of avian ecology in the School of Natural Resources. His role here will be to train future scientists, conservationists and wildlife managers studying at USask. His research will tackle challenges in wetland and waterfowl conservation and will shape strategies for sustaining the environment in the face of climate and land-use change.

Ducks Unlimited Canada and USask have launched a $5-million fundraising initiative to support the chair’s research and create student awards. Donations can be made online here.

About Ducks Unlimited Canada: Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is the leader in wetland conservation. A registered charity, DUC partners with government, industry, non-profit organizations and landowners to conserve wetlands that are critical to waterfowl, wildlife and the environment.

*Photo caption: Mitch Weegman holds a cackling goose on Baffin Island, Nunavut, in August 2019 as part of a project to measure the birds’ survival and harvest rates. (Credit: Submitted by Mitch Weegman)