Peter Wells

Peter Wells is an Adjunct Professor Marine Affairs Program, Faculty of Science, Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society (RCGS), and Senior Research Fellow, International Ocean Institute, at Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS.

Peter has a BSc in Biology (McGill University, 1967), a Master of Science in Zoology (University of Toronto, 1969) and a PhD in Zoology/Aquatic Toxicology (University of Guelph,1976). He retired June 30th, 2006, from Environment Canada, after 34 years of public service, his last position being the Head, Coastal and Water Science, and Senior Research Scientist, Coastal Ecosystems, in Dartmouth, NS. At the same time, he served the United Nations GESAMP in various capacities for 14 years, taught at Dalhousie University starting 1983, and taught an international marine pollution course in Bermuda for 16 years. He has approx. 300 publications. At Dalhousie, he supervises graduate students in marine environmental science and marine affairs (ecotoxicology, environmental indicators, ecological risk assessment, land-based marine pollution), and environmental informatics.

His current research includes choosing indicators for coastal ecosystem health; utilizing blue mussels for monitoring chemical contaminants; and evaluating the use and influence of marine environmental information in environmental policies and decision making. His community service includes being Chair, Bay of Fundy Ecosystem Partnership (BOFEP), and member of its working groups. He has been elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2000), and was recipient of Dalhousie’s highest award for teaching excellence by part-time faculty (2002).