Fergus I.M. Craik

Fergus Craik was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1935. He obtained his B.Sc. in Psychology at the University of Edinburgh in 1960 and obtained his Ph.D. University of Liverpool in 1965. His thesis work was on age‑related changes in confidence and decision‑making and he became interested in the effects of aging on memory and related cognitive processes.

Dr. Craik was on the faculty of Birkbeck College, University of London from 1965-1971. In 1971 he joined the University of Toronto and was appointed University Professor of Psychology in 1997. He held the Glassman Chair of Neuropsychology from 1996 until his retirement from the university in 2000. He has been on many university committees, and chaired the Department of Psychology (1985-1990). He is University Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Craik's research work involves the experimental study of human memory processes; a second interest is in the effects of aging on memory and cognition. He has written some 200 journal articles and book chapters, and co-edited nine books. His academic and professional appointments also include being Editor of the Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behaviour from 1980‑84 and membership of the editorial boards of seven other journals.

Honours include Fellowships of the Canadian and American Psychological Associations; Fellow, Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University (1982-83); Killam Research Fellowship (1982-84); Guggenheim Fellowship (1982‑83); Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (1985- ); Award for Scientific Achievement from the Ontario Psychological Foundation (1987); Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award of the Canadian Psychological Association (1987); William James Fellow Award from the American Psychological Society (1993); Hebb Award of the Canadian Society for Brain, Behaviour, and Cognitive Science in 1998; Honorary President of the Canadian Psychological Association (1997-98); the Killam Prize for Science, 2000.

Dr. Craik has been associated with the Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest since 1988, and was appointed Senior Scientist in 2000.