Rees Kassen, Director
Rees Kassen is Director of the Trottier Institute of Science and Public Policy, Professor of Evolutionary Biology, and Scientific Director of the Coronavirus in the Urban Environment (CUBE) initiative.
After completing his PhD in 2001, Rees did postdoctoral research at the University of Oxford before joining the University of Ottawa in 2003. He moved to McGill in 2023 to take up a joint appointment in the Max Bell School of Public Policy, Faculty of Arts; and the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science.
In addition to research and teaching, Rees is active at the interface between science, society, and policy. More information about Dr. Kassen and his research can be found here.
Contact the Director at Rees.Kassen [at] mcgill.ca (subject: TISPP%3A)
Marc Fortin, Professor of Practice
Marc Fortin is passionate about leveraging new knowledge and research to generate impact for policy-makers, academics, social organizations, industry and decision-makers. He has worked extensively with senior leaders in the Government of Canada and with international partners to provide advice on topics at the interface of science, policy and society. He has led the development of innovative policies, strategies and programs that have changed the relationships between partners in the innovation space nationally and internationally. They have also led to new knowledge co-developed across organizations, countries and disciplines.
Marc is a Trottier Institute for Science and Policy Professor of Practice. He was most recently (for 7 years) Vice-President of the Research Grants and Scholarships at the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Prior to joining NSERC, he led research organizations in academia and government. He was Assistant Deputy Minister for science and technology at the Department of National Defence and at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada for 11 years. He was Associate Professor at McGill University where he held leadership positions (Department Chair and Associate Dean – Research) over 17 years.
Our History
TISPP was established through a generous gift from the exceptionally committed alumnus Lorne Trottier, through the Lorne Trottier Family Foundation.
Born in Montreal, Quebec, Lorne Trottier is a co-founder of Matrox, a privately held group of companies known around the world for their innovative computer graphics, video and imaging products. Dr. Trottier holds a Bachelor's and Master’s degree in electrical engineering from McGill University. In 2006 he was awarded a doctorate degree honoris causa by McGill, and in 2011 and 2013 by l’Université de Montréal and by the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) respectively. Dr. Trottier is a member of the Advisory Boards of the Faculties of Science and Engineering of McGill University as well as a Governor Emeritus of the same university. In 2003, Dr. Trottier received the prestigious Prix Lionel-Boulet, the Government of Quebec's highest honour for economic development in the area of applied technology. In 2007, Dr. Trottier was named a Member of the Order of Canada.
Over the years, Lorne Trottier and the Trottier Family Foundation have been extremely generous benefactors of McGill University. Their latest $20 million gift funds a series of initiatives and aims to enhance and promote sustainable scientific and technological development and influence public policy.