Emma Despland

Emma Despland is a Professor in the Department of Biology at Concordia University. Her research focuses on plant-insect interactions, specifically examining individual behavior, nutrition, and chemical ecology. She investigates how social relationships among herbivorous insects and their interactions with food plants and natural enemies influence population dynamics, particularly in pest species like the Forest Tent Caterpillar, Spruce Budworm, and desert locust. She also works on biodiversity conservation in urban landscapes and the neotropics.

• Education: B.Sc. in Environmental Biology (McGill), M.Sc. in Biologie (Laval), D.Phil. in Zoology (Oxford)

Her publications span topics including collective behavior, climate adaptation, and herbivory mechanisms. Notable projects include studies on caterpillar nutrition, biocontrol strategies, and Atacama desert ecosystems. She teaches courses in invertebrate diversity and ecological techniques.