Ottawa U confers honorary doctorate degree to Quebec biologist Boucar Diouf

Source: University of Ottawa

Quebec biologist Boucar Diouf was among those conferred with summer 2025 honourary doctorate degrees by the University of Ottawa.

Honorary doctorates are awarded for substantial contributions made by the recipients to the University of Ottawa, to their profession, to science, or to society at large. An honorary doctorate acknowledges that the recipient deserves to be recognized for their unsurpassed abilities due to life’s learning and experiences.

Originally from Senegal, Boucar Diouf is a Quebec biologist, oceanographer and comedian. He currently has a career as a comedian, columnist and radio host, and in his sketches, he regularly deals with issues of integration, life in Africa and cultural differences.

After earning a master’s degree in biology from the Université de Dakar, Boucar Diouf moved to Quebec in 1991 to work on a PhD in oceanography at the Université du Québec à Rimouski. To help his students grasp the course content, he prepared a series of sketches that he called Boucardises, a comedic way to present educational material. The Boucardises were a big hit with the students, and this led him to take the stage at the Just for Laughs and Grand Rire de Québec comedy festivals.

Boucar uses humour to break barriers and challenge stereotypes. He educates audiences about the environmental crisis and the erosion of biodiversity, and also explores themes of tolerance, diversity and intergenerational relationships. Boucar has hosted several TV shows. He has shared commentary on public affairs programs and in media, written 15 books, hosted several radio shows and some 15 documentaries that have aired on Radio-Canada, Télé-Québec and TV5.

Boucar’s compassion and scientific rigour have earned him a number of distinctions, including the Charles-Biddle award from the Quebec government for his contribution to cultural diversity; the Pierre-Dansereau award from the Association des biologistes du Québec, the Ordre national du Québec and the Quebec Office of the French Language’s Mérite du français award.