Peter Larkin, former Professor Emeritus at the University of British Columbia, was a researcher, teacher, administrator and science policy advisor. He was a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan and a Rhodes Scholar. One of Canada’s best known scholars, it is difficult to find an area of resource management in which his name does not occupy a prominent position.

Specializing in fisheries research, he became B.C.’s first provincial fisheries biologist in 1948. At the University of B.C., he held numerous positions, including Director of the Institute of Fisheries, Head of the Zoology Department, Dean of Graduate Studies, and Vice-President Research. He played a major role in developing Canada’s position on the International North Pacific Fisheries Commission as well as in fisheries research and development at the United Nations.

He served on the Science Council of Canada, the International Development Research Centre and the National Task Force on the Environment and the Economy. In 1995, Peter Larkin was given the Science Council Chairman’s award for lifelong service to science and technology in B.C. and was inducted into the Order of Canada. He is one of a tiny group of Canadian scientists who were consistently and broadly active, highly regarded by their peers, and immensely effective in contributing to the research environment.

Dr. Larkin published more than 160 papers on fisheries and related topics. He worked to promote public awareness of science through the Vancouver Aquarium and the Arts, Science and Technology Centre which later became Science World. He was instrumental in launching the SPARK industrial strategic planning initiative to identify opportunities for the expanded use of science and technology for economic development in B.C.

Dr. Peter Larkin made an outstanding contribution to the quality and relevance of scientific teaching and research in British Columbia.