Accession UAA-2011-022 - UAA-2011-022

Austin Mardon was born in Edmonton, Alberta on June 25th, 1962. In his late teens he moved to Scotland where he attended Grenoble University. Mardon returned to Canada to attend the University of Lethbridge in Lethbridge, Alberta where he majored in geography. He received his degree in 1985 before going to graduate school for his MSc at South Dakota State University. In 1986-1987 he was a member of the Antarctic meteorite expedition for NASA and the National Science Foundation. He was awarded the Antarctica Service Medal for his work. Mardon also attended Texas A&M University for his Masters in Education, which he completed in 1990. In 1992 at the age of 30 Mardon was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Following his diagnoses he went on to complete his PhD in geography at Greenwich University in Australia.

Throughout his degrees Mardon published numerous articles and books. He was also elected an International Fellow and Corresponding Fellow of the Explores Club of New York and inducted into the international Academy of Astronautics.

Mardon has worked as a mental health advocate, writing and speaking on the topics of schizophrenia, homelessness, medication, and income support.

Mardon has been the recipient of many awards including the the Flag of Hope Award in 2011, the Bill Jefferies Family Award of the Schizophrenia Society of Canada in 2007, the Distinguished Alumni Award of the University of Lethbridge in 2002, the President's Award of the Alberta chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association in 2007, and the Medal of Honour of the Alberta Medical Association in 2010. In 2007 Mardon was awarded the Order of Canada.

Mardon is currently an Assistant Adjunct Professor at the John Dossetor Health Ethics Centre and in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Alberta (U of A). In 2019, he also began serving on the senate at the University of Lethbridge.

Mardon is married to Catherine Mardon.