Dr. Thierry Chopin was born and educated in France. He obtained his Doctorate from the University of Western Brittany, Brest, France.  He moved to Canada in 1989 and is presently Professor in the Biology Department at the University of New Brunswick in Saint John.

We asked Thierry what life was like for him in the Saint John Community – what was it like to immigrate to Canada (to Saint John in particular), what he thinks of the community and how living here lets him work on his terms…

Thierry Chopin

Professor of Marine Biology

Honorary Vice-consul of France

I arrived here in 1989, after accepting a position of Professor of Marine Biology at UNBSJ. I did not know Saint John, but the interview had been encouraging.  My wife, from Prince Edward Island, was happy to come back to the region and the Bay of Fundy – with the highest tides in the world, this was the ideal place for my research.

The Transition: There was a period of adaptation with the language and the teaching styles different than those of France.  But, over the years, things have improved.

The Community: Being in a multicultural community like ours is interesting when one tries to understand the cultures without judging them with a mind full of clichés.  Saint John is changing and this multi-ethnicity is bringing new dynamics to the city.

Family Life: Marine and Morgan, our two daughters, have been able to blossom in an enjoyable and safe environment.  At the bottom of our garden, we can see deer in the morning while eating our breakfast.

Work Life: At the University, I built up a team working on Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture, in which complementary species are cultivated to develop balanced systems. We are at the cutting-edge of new and sustainable practices and we have acquired a worldwide reputation for our work.