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is awarded to
"I am honoured to have been selected for the CAP Medal and am extremely grateful and humbled to join a group of distinguished pedagogues. At the same time, I wish to acknowledge the thousands of physics educators across the country whose daily diligence and innovations in teaching form the basis of our success." winner quote
The Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) is pleased to announce that the 2026 CAP Medal for Excellence in Teaching Undergraduate Physics is awarded to Adrian Liu, McGill University, in recognition of his sustained excellence in classroom instruction and impressive record of undergraduate research mentorship. announcement
Professor Adrian Liu is recognized for his exceptional and sustained contributions as an educator, mentor, and leader in building inclusive and high-impact learning environments. Since joining McGill University in 2018, Prof. Liu has distinguished himself as one of the most influential teachers in the department, earning McGill’s highest university-wide teaching honour—the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching—alongside numerous earlier awards recognizing his pedagogical excellence.
Prof. Liu’s approach to teaching is grounded in evidence-based practice and a deep respect for students as learners and future colleagues. His courses are structured around a “multiple-pass” teaching philosophy that blends conceptual reasoning, active learning, and guided inquiry. This approach has resulted in outstanding student outcomes and consistently exceptional course evaluations across a wide range of undergraduate physics courses. Students frequently credit his classes with transforming both their understanding of physics and their confidence in pursuing the discipline.
Equally notable is Prof. Liu’s extraordinary record as a mentor. He has supervised more than forty undergraduate researchers at McGill alone, many of whom have published in leading journals, won presentation awards, or gone on to top graduate programs. His research group is intentionally structured as a supportive community of practice, where students of all backgrounds develop both technical and professional skills.
Prof. Liu has also demonstrated exceptional leadership in equity, diversity, and inclusion. He spearheaded the department’s first climate survey, led the creation of a graduate teaching award recognizing excellence among TAs, and co-founded the “Classroom Physicists” project to broaden representation in physics role models.
Through his innovative teaching, transformative mentorship, and principled leadership, Professor Adrian Liu has made an enduring impact on undergraduate physics education at McGill and across the broader community. nominator citation
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