Douglas Powell completed a B.Sc. (honors) in molecular biology and genetics at the University of Guelph in 1985 and a doctoral degree in the department of Food Science at the University of Guelph in May 1996, applying risk-communication theory to issues of food safety and agricultural biotechnology. In August 1996, he began an appointment as Director of the Science and Society project at the Universities of Guelph and Waterloo and is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Plant Agriculture at the University of Guelph.

Dr Powell is currently director of the five-year Agri-Food Risk Management and Communication Project at Guelph, where he leads a diverse research team that integrates scientific knowledge with public perceptions to garner the benefits of a particular agricultural technology or product while managing and mitigating identified risks.