Induction into the Royal Society of Canada is considered the highest honor available to scholars, artists and scientists in Canada. The Society's members coming from different disciplines are committed to achieving excellence and to improving Canada's competitive standing on the world stage.

Michel Boivin is internationally recognized for his work on the role of peer relationships in child development. He directs a research program aimed at understanding the interface of biological and psychosocial dimensions in human development. His interdisciplinary studies are innovative in assessing the development of twins from birth in order to understand the complex transactions between genetic and environmental factors in many areas of human adaptation, such as stress, parental behaviours, social behaviour, and interactions among children. He also directs a Canadian network for advancing knowledge on early child development.