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Donna Mergler

Knight
2020

Emerita professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Québec at Montréal and co-founder of CINBIOSE*, Donna Mergler is known around the world for her work on the toxic effects of environmental pollutants. Inspired by an ecosystemic approach to human health building on transdisciplinarity, gender analysis and participative research, her research work across Québec, Canada, the United States and Latin American regions including Amazonia has positively impacted legislation, public policy and communities’ quality of life.

Her research with the Grassy Narrows First Nation in northern Ontario on one of the worst environmental disasters in Canadian history brought to light the long-term effects of mercury poisoning on health and early mortality, confirming what this community had alleged for more than fifty years..

Renowned for her bold inquiry and great scientific rigour, Donna Mergler was recognized by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as one of the women in science who have marked the 20th century.

* Interdisciplinary Research Group on Health, Society and the Environment (CINBIOSE).

The picture and biographical information appearing on this page were current at the time this person was admitted to the Ordre de Montréal.