Traffic to Dr. Joe Schwarcz's office at McGill University in Montreal has seen an unusual surge. It's not students flocking for extra chemistry help, but rather to visit his unique office mates: a flock of over 350 decorative ducks.
From a Lecture Prop to a 350-Duck Collection
The collection began years ago after a talk on medical fraud, or quackery. An audience member asked about the term's connection to ducks, prompting Schwarcz to research its origins. He discovered "quack" derives from the 16th-century Dutch "quacksalver," meaning a boastful seller of dubious salves, not from the sound a duck makes. Cartoonists in the late 1800s later linked the term to duck imagery as a visual pun.
For emphasis in a subsequent lecture, Schwarcz tossed a small yellow rubber duck. This sparked a curiosity that turned into a full-blown collection. He now owns ducks made of wood, metal, ceramic, glass, vintage celluloid, Lego, and PVC, sourced from garage sales, travels, and gifts. They serve as a constant reminder of his mission to debunk pseudoscience.
The Surprising Science of Duckweed: From Ponds to Mars
His duck obsession led Schwarcz to the science of duckweed, a fast-growing aquatic plant. Often mistaken for algae, it's called duckweed because it thrives in waters frequented by ducks, who eat it. This humble plant is now at the forefront of food sustainability research.
Duckweed boasts a protein content of up to 43% in its dry form and can double its mass every couple of days. With global food production needing to increase by an estimated 60% by 2050, scientists see it as a promising solution. It requires no farmland, yields ten times more protein per area than soybeans, and has a strong nutritional profile.
Its potential is so great that NASA is investigating duckweed as a potential food source for astronauts on future Mars missions. The concept involves using carbon dioxide from astronauts' breath and nitrogen compounds from waste to cultivate the plant continuously during a multi-year journey.
More Than a Quirky Hobby: A Symbol Against Misinformation
What started with a single rubber duck has expanded into duck-themed bookends, umbrellas, and even magic tricks. For Dr. Schwarcz, director of McGill's Office for Science & Society, the collection is far more than decor. Each duck is a tactile symbol in the ongoing battle against scientific misinformation and health fraud.
The ducks have made his office a destination, creating informal opportunities to discuss science literacy. Meanwhile, the related research into duckweed highlights how curiosity—even about etymology—can lead to serious exploration of solutions for pressing global issues like food security and sustainable agriculture.
As for finding a rubber duck speckled with duckweed for his collection? Schwarcz concludes that would be just "ducky." His unique approach reminds us that the fight for credible science can sometimes come from the most unexpected places.
