Ian Clarke

Ian Clarke is an Associate Professor of Biology and Sustainability in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and an Associate Director of the Global Centre for Climate Action (GCCA). He holds a PhD in Biochemistry from Queen’s University (Kingston), graduated from OCAD University in the Faculty of Art (Printmaking) and has trained as a Biologist at the Design Table (BaDT) at he Biomimicry Institute in Montana. Prior to joining OCAD University he was a cancer stem-cell researcher at the Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre at the Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute in Toronto and published numerous scientific papers in Journals such as Nature, Cancer Research, Cell Stem Cell and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA). At OCAD University he has previously served as the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and the Interim Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. In the past, he has served as the Vice-President and a Board member of the Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild and a member of the International Society for Stem Cell Research, Canadian Stem Cell Network, Society of Neuro-oncology and the Society of Neuroscience. His research and teaching is focused on the science of sustainability and how it intersects with the social and cultural aspects of sustainability with a focus on the climate crisis. His research currently focuses on food systems as a cultural adaptation to the climate crisis including designing zero carbon, passive solar heated, greenhouses for cold climate urban agriculture and another stream working on developing new forms of low carbon emission, non-toxic, photographic chemistry for artists.