The University of Ottawa confers the title of Distinguished University Professor in recognition of unusual scholarly achievement, pre-eminence in a particular field of knowledge and a solid teaching record. To this, Professor Steve Perry replies, “I guess my mother was right when she would refer to me as ‘an unusual child’.” He then adds, “Have my scholarly achievements been ‘unusual’? I think it is always better to defer to others on such questions.” However, one thing is certain, Prof. Perry has demonstrated ongoing commitment to the University of Ottawa at various levels, including teaching, research and administration. This has earned him the honourable title of Distinguished Professor for which he is both proud and grateful. The title also allows him to obtain annual funding for research support.
Since Professor Perry joined the Faculty of Science in 1983, he has held various administrative positions. He was Chair of the Department of Biology, Vice-Dean of Research and Dean of the Faculty of Science, in addition to his role of Professor and Researcher, and all while holding a University Research Chair. In addition, he has received numerous awards and scholarships and led impressive work in the field of comparative physiology. Prof. Perry’s passion is studying fish, from zebrafish larvae to adult sharks, a diverse animal group adapted to some of the most extreme and unstable environments on the planet. With his team of talented students, postdoctoral fellows and technicians, Prof. Perry addresses questions such as “how do animals sense their surroundings?” He embraces the paradigm of fundamental research, which aims to provide basic scientific knowledge that may not have immediate practical applications, but from which the world’s greatest discoveries are nevertheless made. According to Prof. Perry, it is critical that universities and funding agencies continue to recognize the huge potential of fundamental research. He hopes that his body of work on fish environmental physiology will provide fundamental knowledge while informing scientists and policy makers involved in environmental protection.
Prof. Perry truly believes that there is no better career than being a university academic. He shares, “We have the privilege of teaching to the brightest minds while being provided an opportunity to conduct more-or-less unrestricted research unfettered by geopolitical boundaries.” As there is no single path to a successful career in academic research, he adds, “It may sound corny, but my advice is to follow your heart—pursue what you love rather than follow that so-called road to success.”
