The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) announced today the appointment of Mark Rahswahérha Green as the new Scholar in Residence. This is a two-year advisory position where Dr. Green will provide an Indigenous research perspective on NSERC’s programs, policies, and processes.

Dr. Green has been part of the Department of Civil Engineering for over 30 years, where he investigates how to prepare bridges and other concrete structures to withstand extreme conditions, like fires. Dr. Green is also a champion of inclusivity and Indigenization at Queen’s, working with Indigenous communities across Ontario to implement sustainable engineering projects. He also served as Queen’s Provost from 2020 to 2022.

Dr. Green sits with the Turtle Clan in the Kenhtè:ke Longhouse in Tyendinaga and has played a crucial role in initiatives such as Queen’s University’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission Task Force and Queen’s Indigenous Futures in Engineering, which promotes engineering education for Indigenous students.

Throughout his career, Dr. Green has published over 250 research papers and received numerous awards, including the Professional Engineers Ontario Medal for Research and Development (2013), the Premier’s Research Excellence Award (2000), the Queen’s Employment Equity Award (2012) and Queen’s Engineering 125th Anniversary Faculty Award (2019). He is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE), the International Institute for FRP in Construction (IIFC), the Canadian Society of Civil Engineering (CSCE), and the American Concrete Institute (ACI).

In his new role with NSERC, Dr. Green will advise the government funding agency on how best to advance reconciliation through research.

"Indigenous perspectives have so much to offer Canadian scientific research, and I’m excited about the opportunity to strengthen these relationships," says Dr. Green. "I am looking forward to working with NSERC to help create partnerships with Indigenous communities for mutual benefit."

Read the NSERC story to learn more.