CANADIAN ASSOCIATION
OF PHYSICISTS

ASSOCIATION CANADIENNE DES
PHYSICIENS ET PHYSICIENNES

PRESS RELEASE / FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2001 CAP MEDAL
for Excellence in Teaching Physics

awarded to

PROFESSOR NAPOLEON GAUTHIER

"I am very proud to receive the CAP Award for Excellence in Teaching for 2001, a distinction which I share with all the past recipients, whose outstanding accomplishments have motivated me and strengthened my efforts to aim for excellence. I wish to take this opportunity to thank my employer, The Royal Military College of Canada, for placing such a high value on teaching and for supporting me in the pursuits that I undertook to bring the many challenges and opportunities that physics can offer to young Canadians. I am particularly indebted to my home department colleagues for having had confidence in me, for inspiring me by their example, and for backing me up whenever I needed their help; they all receive this award with me."

Ottawa, April 25^th, 2001 - The Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) is pleased to announce that its 2001 Medal for Excellence in Teaching Physics will be awarded to Professor Napoleon Gauthier of the Royal Military College of Canada for his outstanding contribution to teaching physics from the high school to graduate level.

In the classroom, Dr. Gauthier's innovative approach makes him not only appreciated but sought after by students. His precise, well-organized lectures make even the most difficult concepts come alive. His profound understanding of both the theoretical and experimental aspects of the subject is immensely valuable ini instruction and ine couraging young shcolars to continue in Physics. As professor in charge of the implementation of French instruction at RMS, he was instrumental in creating bilingual programs, not only in Physics, but throughout the college.

Dr. Gauther has played a major role in the Canadian Chemistry and Physics Olympiad. As the CAP liaison, he decidated a sabbatical year to organizing the International Olympiad in 1997. Here 450 delegates from 60 countries assembled in Sudbury and the event was an unqualified success. In 1991 and 1999 he organized the national Olympiad at RMC. It was held at RMC again in 2000.

Professor Gauthier joined the Physics department in 1976 and was promoted to full professor in 1985. As special assistant to the Principal from 1985 to 1994, he was responsible for the implementation of French instruction. To honour his accomplishments in teaching, research, and administration, he was nominated as Distinguished Professor in 1995, one of only four ever named. Dr. Gauthier's contributions have had a deep and lasting influence, not only on the cadets at RMC, but the many Canadian and international high school physics students that have participated in the Physics Olympiad.

The CAP's Medal for Excellence in Teaching Physics was introduced in 1996 and has been awarded annually since. The 2001 Medal will be presented to Prof. Gauthier during the CAP's awards banquet to be held at the University of Victoria on June 19th, 2001.

The Canadian Association of Physicists, founded in 1945, is a professional association representing over 1600 individual physicists and physics students as well as a number of Corporate and Departmental Members. In addition to its learned activities, the CAP also undertakes a number of activities intended to encourage students to pursue a career in physics.

For more information, please contact:

Canadian Association of Physicists
Tel: (613) 562-5614
Fax: (613) 562-5615
E-mail: cap@physics.uottawa.ca

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