Media Release

For Immediate Release

April 5, 2008

Physics professor CAPs year with national medal for teaching

Professor Adam Sarty of Saint Mary's University Department of Astronomy & Physics is the winner of this year's CAP Medal for Excellence in Teaching.

Saint Mary’s University physics professor Adam Sarty is the winner of this year's Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) Medal for Excellence in Teaching. 

The CAP Medal honours university 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 ways that help students achieve academic success in physics. The medal is awarded annually to one physics professor in Canada.

"I am humbled and honoured to receive this medal, and would like to share the recognition with my team -- my wife and children, my department and dean, and the Saint Mary’s Centre for Academic and Instructional Development. All have taught me, guided me and supported me in my physics teaching," said Sarty.

Merit for the medal is based on all forms of undergraduate teaching, from classroom lecturing and consultation with individual students, to the introduction of innovative teaching methods and the production of educational materials. Sarty takes particular pride in getting people excited about physics.

"Removing people's fear of science in general, and physics in particular, is a passion I have, said Sarty. “This is what drives me to implement as many resources as possible in my introductory classes, to remove barriers to understanding, and to take my physics shows on the road to schools and community groups.”

“We are very fortunate to have in our department someone who has been nationally recognized for inspiring his students to love learning physics,” said assistant professor Roby Austin, noting Sarty’s ability to successfully implement innovative teaching technologies and to share the “beauty of the discipline” through his dedication to physics education.

Sarty and recipients of other CAP awards will be honoured during a CAP Congress banquet June 10 at Laval University in Quebec City.

The Canadian Association of Physicists is a broadly-based national network of physicists in working in Canadian educational, industrial and research settings. They provide advocacy in support of excellence in physics research and education.

Saint Mary's University is known for its community outreach projects, both in Canada and around the world. Saint Mary's, founded in 1802, is home to one of Canada's leading business schools, a Science Faculty widely known for its cutting-edge research, a comprehensive and innovative Arts Faculty and a vibrant Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.

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For more information:

Blake Patterson
Public Affairs Officer
Saint Mary's University, Public Affairs
(902) 420.5514
E-mail: blake.patterson@smu.ca
www.smu.ca