CAP Medal Press Release - 2018 Teaching

The Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) is pleased to announce that the 2018 CAP Medal for Excellence in Teaching Undergraduate Physics is awarded to Sarah Johnson, Simon Fraser University, in recognition of for her overall accomplished contributions to teaching. In addition to her sustained excellence in classroom teaching, Sarah has been active in developing programming to ensure student success, such as a volunteer Peer Tutoring Program in Science & Math and Early Intervention Tutorials for students at risk of failure in first-year classes. She has been active in curriculum design, such as the development of a Studio Physics version of first-year physics and was an early adopter of iClickers, which are a tremendous tool for improving student engagement during lectures. Sarah has a stellar record of community outreach in general (e.g., "Science Spooktacular"), and her efforts in encouraging young women to go into physics (e.g., "Girls Exploring Physics"), in particular. announcement

Dr. Sarah D. Johnson is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Physics at Simon Fraser University where she has been teaching since 2005. During this time she has taught large and small undergraduate physics courses, revitalized first-year physics through introducing the Workshop Physics approach, and incorporated Interactive Lecture Demonstrations, Peer Instruction and other innovative Physics Education Research-based approaches. In addition, Sarah has been actively involved in supporting all students through participating in SFU Peer Education and organizing special events for students. Her goal is to make physics more accessible and increase not only students’ physics knowledge and problem-solving skills, but also their appreciation of the field. Sarah has organized many outreach events supporting girls and indeed all undergraduate students in physics, as well as big physics events for families. In addition, Sarah takes on a leadership role in the BC Association of Physics Teachers helping bridge high school and undergraduate physics teaching. Sarah’s deep physics knowledge, passion for physics and for her students makes her a perfect candidate for the CAP Medal in Undergraduate Physics Teaching. nominator citation

The CAP Medal for Excellence in Teaching honours faculty members who have a comprehensive knowledge and deep understanding of their subject and who possess an exceptional ability to communicate their knowledge and understanding in such a way as to lead their students to high academic achievement in physics. This medal was introduced in 1996.

Prof. Johnson will be presented with her medal at a Medallists' Recognition Banquet in Halifax on Wednesday, June 13, 2018. The Banquet is one of the featured events of the CAP Congress hosted by Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, from June 10-14. Please refer to the Congress outline (https://www.cap.ca/congress-conference/congress-2018/2018-congress-glance/) for the schedule of plenary talks by the CAP medal winners. medal description

ABOUT the Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP)

The Canadian Association of Physicists, founded in 1945, is a professional association representing over 1600 individual physicists and physics students in Canada, the U.S. and overseas, as well as a number of Corporate, Institutional, and Departmental Members. In addition to its learned activities, the CAP, through its charitable arm - the CAP Foundation, also undertakes a number of activities intended to encourage students to pursue a career in physics. cap description

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For more information, please contact:

Mrs. Francine Ford, Executive Director
Canadian Association of Physicists
Tel: 613-562-5614
E-mail: execdir@cap.ca
www.cap.ca

The 2018 CAP Medal for Excellence in Teaching Undergraduate Physics

Sarah Johnson