Dear Colleagues,
It is my great pleasure to announce the recipients of the 2015 Fannie Cox Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching, Jene Golovchenko, Rumford Professor of Physics and Gordon McKay Professor of Applied Physics, and John Johnson, Professor of Astronomy. Made possible by a generous gift from alumnus Gardner Hendrie ’54 and consisting of a $10,000 personal award and $40,000 in unrestricted support for teaching and research, the Fannie Cox Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching recognizes exceptional teaching in introductory science courses. A faculty committee comprised of members from across the sciences, including previous awardees, recommends recipients to me based on their ability to inspire students, instill in them a passion for science, and effectively communicate complex ideas.
Jene Golovchenko is described by his students as “inspiring,” “disciplined,” and “transformative.” His development of the Freshman Seminar: “The Physics and Applied Physics Freshman Research Laboratory,” with the specific purpose of putting freshmen into a research setting early on in their careers, has inspired generations of students to pursue a career in the sciences. Students rave about his interactive and hands-on approach to teaching and enthusiasm for the material.
Jeremy Bloxham
Dean of Science