Professor Michael Byers has been appointed as the Brenda and David McLean Chair in Canadian Studies at the University of British Columbia for 2017-2019. Dr. Byers has been a Professor of Political Science and Canada Research Chair in Global Politics and International Law at UBC since 2004. He was previously a Professor of Law and the Director of the Center for Canadian Studies at Duke University. Much of Professor Byers’ research concerns Canadian foreign, defence, and space policy. He is the author of Intent for a Nation (2007), Who Owns the Arctic? (2009), and International Law and the Arctic (2013). The latter volume won the Donner Prize for the best book published on Canadian public policy that year. Professor Byers is a regular contributor to the Globe and Mail newspaper and has extensive broadcast experience. His research has been supported by grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and ArcticNet, a federally funded consortium of Arctic scientists from more than 30 universities and government departments. Professor Byers is currently writing a book on Canada’s two remaining geographic frontiers— the Arctic and Outer Space—that compares and addresses the governance challenges of both regions. In his McLean Lectures, he will argue that Canada is uniquely placed to be a leader in global diplomacy and international law-making in the mid-21st century and beyond. Michael Byers brings a unique, powerful and persuasive voice to debates about sovereignty, security, environmental protection, indigenous rights, and international human rights. As the McLean Chair, he will teach the senior seminar in Canadian Studies (CDST 450).