The Herbert Fernando Memorial Award was established to honour the legacy of a man who was concerned with equity and the equitable treatment of racialized peoples. Herbert was a dedicated and enthusiastic biology professor in the Department of Biology for over 33 years and a key advocate for biology field courses. He strongly believed that field courses played an essential role in the complete education of his students.
Those who knew him recalled a man with a cheery and generous disposition whose talents far exceeded academia. He was a marvelous cook and had a knack for breaking out into Russian song to make others smile. His widow, Aggie, was touched by the establishment of this memorial award in his honour and has contributed on behalf of his family. His daughter Shanti spoke about his advocacy for racialized students, “He was their voice when they couldn’t find it. Education should be accessible for everybody and Dad would be very honoured to have his name associated with an award that helped provide that education."
The Herbert Fernando Memorial Award will be offered annually to two Black or Indigenous full-time undergraduate students who are enrolled in a field-based course in the Department of Biology in the Faculty of Science. Selection is based on academic excellence in ecology-based courses (minimum of three courses taken). To be considered, interested students are asked to self-identify their eligibility by completing an online form by January 15, 2022. To increase the value and impact of this award, donations large and small are gratefully accepted . Your donation will help create a more diverse scientific community by ensuring Black and Indigenous students can access these critical biology field courses.