Christopher Opio

Natural Resources | Agroforestry | Environment | Forestry | Water | Forestry (silviculture, height to diameter ratio), agroforestry (reclamation, sheep vegetation management), use of Moringa tree to purify drinking water, water well management in rural Africa.

Dr. Christopher Opio is a Adjunct Professor in Ecosystem Science and Management Program at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC). He continues to have a full teaching load, do research, publish and supervise both graduate and undergraduate students. Dr. Opio also serves on several committees at UNBC. His research interests include forest science, land reclamation, environmental science, agroforestry and water purification using plants. Dr. Opio’s current research examines the effects of Moringa (Moringa oleiferia) root powder on of E. coli in drinking water. After obtaining his BSc in Forestry at UNB, Dr. Opio continued with his further studies and obtained a Master's degree in Environmental Science from the University of Calgary and a PhD in Agroforestry from the University of Alberta. Dr. Opio has been able to integrate effectively his two passions: research and teaching in the fields of forest science, agroforestry and environmental science; and his passion for humanitarian work. He has published extensively in these areas. Dr. Opio has received many local, national and international awards and recognition for his outstanding scholarly and humanitarian contributions. In 2014, Dr. Opio was invited to give a presentation and participate as a discussion leader in a Round Table Discussion Group on Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change at University of Oxford, UK. He was inducted as a member of the Group. In 2012, Dr. Opio was awarded Professor (Academic) of the Year by Confederation of University Faculty Association, British Columbia (CUFA-BC) to recognize his research that benefits society at large. In 2011, he was awarded Alumni Award of Excellence by the University of Alberta, for his humanitarian work in northern Uganda. In 2015, Dr. Opio was awarded Alumni Award of Distinction by the University of New Brunswick for his outstanding scholarly contributions to society. In 2010, Dr. Opio was recognized as one of Canada’s Top 10 Volunteers doing humanitarian work and was honoured with Canada’s Champions of Change Award by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). In 2010, he was awarded a Global Hero Award by Verge Magazine for distinguished service. The City of Prince George also honoured Dr. Opio with a Certificate of Recognition in 2011 for his NUDF work. In 2015, he received Prince George’s Healthier You Award, for outstanding contribution to a multicultural society. Dr. Opio is a well-known professor and a leader in fighting global poverty. He is the Founder, President and CEO of the Northern Uganda Development Foundation (NUDF), a registered Canadian charity organization with the mission of improving the well-being of the people of northern Uganda through research, service delivery, and empowerment of the local people in the region. Since 2007, NUDF has built over 100 clean and safe drinking water wells that serve over 120, 000 people in northern Uganda. Dr. Opio’s leadership is also felt in the community he resides and in Uganda. He gives talks to thousands of elementary and high school students on social responsibility, water conservation, the need to stay focused at school, and volunteerism. Dr. Opio encourages the students to stay in school, work hard, and make their dreams a reality. He nurtures and inspires children, teens, young adults and the community at large to be active citizens both locally and globally. Opio, Dr. Christopher's curriculum vitae