February 26, 1999

Diversity the key to top researcher's success

Dr. David Schindler

Dogsleds are as important as test tubes for Dr. David Schindler, who is just as comfortable in a parka racing a pack as he is working on one of his many influential research projects.

"I professionally raise sled dogs," grins Schindler when asked what he does outside of the lab. He credits his children with the initial interest in the sport.

"We always had hunting dogs but they wanted a sled dog as a pet. We couldn't make up our minds on a pup so we bought two."

The rest, as they say, is history. Schindler says he made the children a sled, "and then they saw a race. I got talking to some of the pro drivers, and then started helping them out with their training. When one of them sold out, I bought some of his dogs." Schindler and his wife, Suzanne Bailey, currently train, breed and race 58 dogs.

"It was a family sport that kept the children out of mischief all through their teens," says Schindler. "With that amount of work per day there was not a lot of energy left to get into trouble!"

Schindler, however, seems to have found more than enough energy to go around. A Killam Memorial Professor of Ecology in the Department of Biological Sciences, Schindler has widely influenced environmental and ecological management policy in Canada, the United States and Europe. The diversity of his research projects and the sheer number of publications (approximately 200 to date) have served as the foundation for environmental public policy changes in these countries.

"I try to pick things that I think are really exciting," explains Schindler, who is currently involved in five major ongoing projects in a number of ecological specialties. "I've tended to leap around a bit. Rather than specializing in one area, I have always been better off figuring out a strategic way to push the cutting edge," he says. "When I don't see any new niche, I go on to something else and then come back to it."

Schindler is quick to point out he has had a "long term interest" in all of the areas he has worked. These have included the effects of UV radiation and gas exchanges in lakes and streams, acid rain, food chains, phosphorus content in detergents, and radioactive elements and climate change on boreal ecosystems. He was involved in research on the Swan Hills Toxic Waste Treatment Centre spill, and participated in the federal Endangered Species Act Task Force and the expert ecology panel of the Banff Bow Valley Task Force. His research has also been described as critical to the success of the cross-border agreement to clean up the Great Lakes, as well as that of many smaller lakes within Canada.

"Schindler is tops in the world," says Dr. Dick Peter, dean of science. "We are very pleased to have the university recognize his work."

"We are delighted," agrees Dr. Susan Jensen, chair of biological sciences. "Schindler is internationally renowned and has received a lot of attention this past year. He has been a very distinguished researcher his entire time at the university."

"The [Kaplan] committee was unanimous in their decision," says Dr. William Graham, chair of the Faculty of Science's nominating committee. "It was a very compelling nomination."

Schindler came to the University of Alberta in 1989 with his wife, also an ecologist. "We have always wanted to work in the mountains, so we accepted the University of Alberta's offer." Ecology runs in the family as both Schindler's daughters and his son work in the field and have married other ecologists. "We have eight ecologists under one roof at Christmas so you can imagine what dominates the conversation," says Schindler with a chuckle.

So, what does the Kaplan award mean to him? "The main thing is the encouragement and the support from the university." As he puts it, "There have been some topics on which I have been pretty active and outspoken," adding disagreements with the premier of Alberta or the minister of the environment have been additional components of his work. "But I have had nothing but encouragement from everyone here. The Kaplan is an indication of the support of the university of me and my programs."

And he's not going anywhere any time soon. "I am planning to stay here until they kick me out."

If being one of the most recent recipients of the university's top research awards is any indication, it's a good thing he and the dogs enjoy being near the mountains.

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