Biography
Austin Mardon is a Canadian mental health researcher, author and disability advocate. He serves as an Associate Adjunct Professor with the John Dossetor Health Ethics Centre and the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Alberta. His work spans mental health, disability inclusion, health ethics, science communication and public education.
Through research, writing and public engagement, Dr Mardon has contributed to improving public understanding of mental health, reducing stigma and promoting the dignity and inclusion of people with disabilities. His broader scholarly and public-interest work has also addressed Antarctic research, astronomy and history. He is a Member of the Order of Canada (CM) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (FRSC), and has received honorary degrees from the University of Alberta and the University of Lethbridge. He became a Fellow of the Liberia Academy of Sciences (LAS) in 2025.
His experience is relevant to Liberia's efforts to strengthen community mental health, disability inclusion, public health education and ethical approaches to health policy and service delivery.