Ryan Brook

Dr. Ryan Brook is a Professor in the Department of Animal and Poultry Science at the University of Saskatchewan, and Theme Leader for Aboriginal Peoples and the Environment at the Indigenous Land Management Institute. He holds affiliate roles at the School of Environment and Sustainability and the International Centre for Northern Governance and Development. His research focuses on wildlife ecology, community-based monitoring, and integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) into conservation efforts, particularly in boreal, Arctic, and prairie ecosystems. Key study species include feral pigs, caribou, moose, and polar bears. Dr. Brook also addresses human dimensions of wildlife management, including farmer perceptions and youth engagement in science.

Education: Post-Doctoral Fellow at University of Calgary (2007–2010), Ph.D. in Environment and Geography (University of Manitoba, 2008), M.Sc. in Natural Resources Management (2001), and B.Sc. in Zoology (1996).

Research Interests: Wildlife-livestock interface management, invasive species dynamics, climate change impacts on ecosystems, and bridging scientific and community knowledge systems. Projects include the Saskatchewan Farmland Moose Project, WildHogWatch, and WECELab (Wildlife, Ecology, and Community Engagement Laboratory).

Funding Sources: Supported by agencies like NSERC, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment. Recent work emphasizes zoonotic disease control, peatland monitoring, and policy collaboration for wildlife health.

Teaching: Courses include Arctic Ecosystem Studies, Animal Agriculture and the Environment, and Aboriginal Land Management projects. He promotes field-based learning and Indigenous-led research methodologies.

Lab/Teams: WECELab coordinates community-driven research on wildlife health and land stewardship, collaborating with Indigenous groups and farmers.