2024 Medal Winners | francais

PRESS RELEASE / FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The 2024 Allan Carswell Physics Educator Scholarship

is awarded to

Ben Giers

"Receiving the Allan Carswell Scholarship is an incredible honour that enables me to pursue my educational goals with greater focus and determination. This generous award strengthens my resolve and inspires me to foster a passion for physics in my future students." winner quote

The Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) is pleased to announce that the 2024 Allan Carswell Physics Educator Scholarship is awarded to Ben Giers, Mount Royal University, in recognition of his excellent academic record as well as his engagement in education research. Additionally, he has taken on a formal peer tutoring role, demonstrating his ability to effectively convey physics concepts to others. Ben’s undergraduate research projects have “deepened [his] appreciation for the beauty and complexity” of physics, “fueling [his] desire to share this enthusiasm with future generations”. announcement

In a world increasingly driven by technological advancements, the importance of a robust physics education cannot be overstated. It forms the bedrock of scientific literacy, empowering individuals to comprehend the intricacies of the natural world and fostering a mindset of inquiry. As Ben has seen in his research on student engagement in the sciences, a solid physics education is not just about equations and formulas but about nurturing a profound curiosity that transcends textbooks and classrooms.

Through his academic journey, Ben has seen firsthand how transformative a good physics education can be. It instills a sense of wonder, encouraging students to question, explore, and imagine. It equips them with the analytical tools to decipher complex phenomena and the creativity to envision groundbreaking solutions. Beyond the academic realm, physics education cultivates critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are invaluable in navigating the challenges of an ever-evolving world.

These skills were instilled in Ben early on by his father, a dedicated physics teacher with over 30 years of experience, who has been a pivotal influence in his journey. His father's passion for teaching and his transformative impact on students inspired Ben to follow in his footsteps.

As a dedicated full-time student, the Allan Carswell Physics Educator Scholarship will provide the support Ben needs to fully engage in his studies and research, preparing him for a rewarding career as a physics educator. Beyond financial assistance, this scholarship will also act as a catalyst, driving Ben to make meaningful contributions to the field, inspiring a genuine passion for physics among students, and paying homage to the impactful legacy of his father's teaching career. nominator citation

ABOUT the Scholarship

The Allan Carswell Physics Educator Scholarships, valued at up to $5000 each, are awarded annually to one or two physics students with a strong academic record and a demonstrated passion for physics and physics pedagogy. With the help of the Allan Carswell Physics Educator Scholarship, the winners will pursue a career in physics education at the secondary school level.

The Allan Carswell Physics Educator Scholarships were set up by the CAP and the CAP Foundation with a generous endowment from the Carswell Family Foundation to raise awareness at all levels of society that physics education is a vital, highly valued and rewarding career path while reinforcing the fact that a major in physics is valuable for many careers, not just research. Educators at all levels are crucial in that they must provide students of all genders and backgrounds with the passion, confidence and science literacy that will inspire them to seek out and succeed in gaining a physics education at the university level. These scholarships were first awarded in 2020. 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: 343-361-3326
E-mail: execdir@cap.ca
www.cap.cacap contact and joint contact