RDP announces 2023 Honorary Degree recipients

Red Deer Polytechnic will award Dr. James Barmby and Dr. Russell Schnell with Honorary Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies Degrees in recognition of their incredible contributions and positive impact on society. 

“It is a privilege to recognize Dr. Barmby and Dr. Schnell as our Honorary Degree recipients this year,” says Stuart Cullum, President of Red Deer Polytechnic. “As respected experts in their fields with deep roots in central Alberta, they have spent their careers in service to the betterment of our communities and our world. They possess uncommon curiosity and passion for education, making them both the kind of lifelong learners we hope our students will be.” 

Dr. Barmby’s post-secondary journey began as an Art and Design Diploma student at Red Deer Polytechnic where he also served as a member of the Student Council from 1973 to 1975. Since then, he has made significant contributions to the provincial and national post-secondary sectors as an accomplished educator and leader. 

As an advocate for higher education and student success, Dr. Barmby has experience in curriculum development, strategic enrollment management, advanced education policy and accreditation. Throughout his post-secondary roles, Dr. Barmby has worked extensively to collaborate with Indigenous communities and to provide support for people with disabilities. 

“Educational institutions provide an opportunity to learn through interaction with others, to realize our individual potential, and to help us appreciate the world in which we live,” says Dr. Barmby. “Our institutions are gardens, not factories, and the growth of every person in their care requires the best we have to offer.” 

As a distinguished atmospheric and climate scientist, Dr. Schnell has made vast contributions to environmental sciences in the region, province and around the world. Over 60 years, he has authored or contributed to nearly 200 publications that have enhanced scientific and global communities. 

Dr. Schnell was a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that was a co-recipient of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. This prestigious honour was granted for efforts to disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change and to outline measures to help mitigate this impact. Dr. Schnell also discovered biological ice nuclei, which are effective initiators of natural precipitation, while working on the Alberta Hail Project. 

In recent years, Dr. Schnell has built Little Free Libraries out of recycled materials and donated them to communities to inspire youth. These libraries can be found in Alberta and around the globe. 

“Growing up in a small town was an ideal place for me. In summer, my friends and I played outdoors and hiked over the hundred square miles of coulees, streams, and badlands,” says Dr. Schnell on his journey from Castor, Alberta to world-renowned scientist. “Coming from a small rural town or a farm background is not an impediment to success. From my perspective, it is a clear and large advantage.”

Dr. Barmby and Dr. Schnell will be formally honoured at Red Deer Polytechnic’s 59th Convocation Ceremonies on June 2. They join a prestigious group of nine other individuals who have also received Honorary Degrees from Red Deer Polytechnic since the institution first began bestowing this honour in 2014.