Three UdeS scientists honoured

Sherbrooke, le 09 septembre 2026 – Three scientists from the Université de Sherbrooke (UdeS) – Fanie Pelletier, Myriam Lemelin, and Yue Zhao – have seen this exceptional recognition from the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) added to their career achievements.

This is the highest honour awarded in the country in the arts, social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences. 

In acknowledgement of their respective outstanding contributions to science and the advancement of society, Fanie Pelletier and Yue Zhao have been named Fellows of the RSC Academy of Science, while Myriam Lemelin has been named a member of The College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists.

These three investigators will have new opportunities for collaboration, as the RSC is a hub where the country’s leading minds advance knowledge and discourse through interdisciplinary research.

“This wonderful recognition highlights years of research innovation and leadership in the fields of animal ecology, materials chemistry, and geological remote sensing. I want to congratulate Fanie Pelletier, Yue Zhao, and Myriam Lemelin on these prestigious distinctions, as their excellence helps make UdeS a world-class institution”, said Jean-Pierre Perreault, President, UdeS.

“This is an incredible nod to scientific careers that produce concrete benefits for society. These researchers are improving wildlife conservation, developing materials for next-generation therapeutics, and preparing for future lunar explorations. UdeS is proud to have Fanie Pelletier, Yue Zhao, and Myriam Lemelin as part of its research community”, said Valérie Laflamme, Vice-President, Research and Vice-President, International Relations.

The RSC announced its new members on September 9.

An expert who is changing how we see wildlife

Fanie Pelletier is a wildlife biologist whose work has influenced public policy on wildlife conservation.

Her expertise is in eco-evolutionary dynamics, or the study of the relationship between the evolution of species (genetic changes, natural selection) and the effects on wild populations. Her research has shown that wild species can evolve over decades or even a few years and that human activities accelerate this evolution.

Based on long-term studies of marked animals, her work has profoundly transformed our understanding of the relationship between ecology and evolution. Fanie Pelletier has pushed innovation a step further by applying eco-evolutionary research to preindustrial human populations.

Her research has become essential for our society, for example, by improving the management of species such as the Scandinavian brown bear, bighorn sheep in Alberta, and caribou in Quebec. Her expertise is frequently sought by provincial, federal, and global expert committees. Fanie Pelletier is also an author of the upcoming report on global biodiversity monitoring by the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).

This exceptional scientist has also built a reputation that has struck a chord at international universities. In recent years, Fanie Pelletier has given over 60 seminars, lectures, and workshops in countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States. Her work has also been cited over 10,000 times in the scientific literature.

Despite her international success, she is committed to promoting science in her native language and is leading an initiative in partnership with the Fonds de recherche du Québec and Canadian Science Publishing to increase the number of scientific publications in French.

“Long-term studies in natural environments are unique opportunities to understand how human activities shape species evolution. Our research helps build basic knowledge about ecology and evolution and contributes to our understanding of how wildlife responds to human-driven environmental changes”, said Fanie Pelletier.

Fanie Pelletier’s many honours include membership in the RSC’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists (2019) and the prestigious E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship (2020). She also has two Canada Research Chairs to her name, including the Canada Research Chair in the Human Impacts on Wildlife, which she has held since 2022.

A visionary in materials of the future

Yue Zhao is a veteran chemist who specializes in advanced functional materials. His discoveries have spurred many technological applications, particularly in the field of healthcare.

His main expertise is in polymers and liquid crystals that respond to exposure to various stimuli (light, pH, temperature, gases, electrical fields, and ultrasound). He is best known for his pioneering work on what are called “photoresponsive polymer nanoparticles,” a breakthrough that could one day be used to release drugs in the body through exposure to light. Targeted treatments (chemotherapy, anti-inflammatory therapies, and antimicrobial therapies) provide greater therapeutic efficacy and reduce side effects in healthy tissues.

Yue Zhao is also a leader in liquid crystal polymer-based soft robots, an emerging field that is generating considerable scientific and technological interest. He and his team have introduced new designs for miniature soft robots that range in size from centimetres down to millimetres. These robots have a variety of potential applications in the fields of artificial muscle, minimally invasive medical devices, and smart textiles.

With over 40 years of research experience, Yue Zhao is seen as a leading figure in his field. His original and creative approach has had a profound impact both in his own laboratory and on the international scientific community. He is behind many innovations when it comes to methods, concepts, fundamental knowledge, and applications.

“I appreciate this honour, as it recognizes the value and importance of my many years of basic research. It also attests to the immense talent of the students I have had the privilege of mentoring and with whom I have worked throughout my career”, said Yue Zhao.

Yue Zhao’s contributions have earned him prestigious awards that include the Macromolecular Science and Engineering Award from the Chemical Institute of Canada (2013).

A rising star in space exploration

Myriam Lemelin is internationally recognized as a leading researcher in the field of geological remote sensing. She uses different techniques to physically characterize geological targets through remote measurements, such as those taken by spaceborne or ground-based imaging systems. Her research has involved characterizing environments such as the Canadian Arctic, asteroids, the Moon, and Mars.

Although she is still in her early career, she has accumulated scientific expertise that is making a true contribution to international space exploration. Her body of work includes two seminal studies that have had a particularly important impact, one of which analyzed the most promising lunar landing sites for investigating the presence of ice and another that derived the only mineralogic maps to date of the Moon’s polar regions.

She has lent her expertise to prepare satellite and robotic missions led by NASA, the Canadian Space Agency, and the European Space Agency that aim to detect the presence of water ice at the Moon’s poles. As a scientific co-investigator for these missions, Myriam Lemelin is participating in prelaunch activities that include characterizing landing sites, developing and testing instruments, and defining scientific objectives. She will then process the data collected during these missions.

This prominent researcher does much more than push the boundaries of remote sensing research, as her remarkable dedication has led her to join research and analysis groups and to sit on advisory committees for national and international organizations. As part of the lectures and public events that she organizes, Myriam Lemelin is overseeing a hackathon at UdeS for the NASA Space Apps Challenge. Anyone interested in space and science can take this opportunity to tackle real-world challenges faced on Earth.

“I feel very humble to receive this recognition and also very motivated to actively contribute to The College’s mission. As I continue to develop specialized knowledge in my field, I look forward to drawing on The College’s interdisciplinary approaches to explore issues that are of particular interest to new researchers, artists, and scientists in order to advance knowledge and contribute to the well-being of our society”, said Myriam Lemelin.

Since 2019, Myriam Lemelin has served as the Canada Research Chair in Northern and Planetary Geological Remote Sensing.

Additional link:

Read the press release from the Royal Society of Canada

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Information:

Geneviève Lussier, Public Relations and Media Relations
Communications Department | Université de Sherbrooke
medias@usherbrooke.ca | 819-821-8000, ext. 65472