Prof.
Robert
Mann
is
very
passionate
about
communicating
his
enjoyment
and
deep
knowledge
of
physics
concepts
to
undergraduate
students
by
working
with
them
individually,
in
small
and
large
classes
at
all
levels
and
by
incorporating
active
learning
strategies
and
novel
demonstrations.
Dr.
Mann
has
endless
patience
and
works
tirelessly
to
nurture
passion
in
his
students,
with
an
overriding
concern
for
their
success
in
learning
and
in
life.
Furthermore,
Robert
Mann
improved
teaching
and
learning
in
his
department,
not
only
through
his
example,
but
through
the
introduction
of
annual
Teaching
Workshops
and
curriculum
and
course
redesign.
Robert
Mann
is
appreciated
by
his
students
for
his
approachability
and
the
time
that
he
spends
to
improve
their
understanding
of
physics.
He
challenges
and
successfully
engages
his
students
at
all
levels
of
instruction,
from
first
year
survey
courses
to
specialized
honours
thesis
research
on
the
frontiers
of
knowledge,
for
some,
turning
a
dislike
of
physics
into
enjoyment.
His
reputation
precedes
him
so
that
his
lectures
are
always
full.
Senior
undergraduate
students
are
often
exposed
to
research
projects
that
result
in
publications,
and
that
in
turn
inspires
them
to
pursue
research
and/or
teaching
careers.
He
is
a
natural
and
trusted
student
mentor.
During
his
two
terms
as
departmental
Chair,
Prof.
Mann
oversaw
impressive
growth,
including
in
undergraduate
and
graduate
enrolment.
Contributions
to
teaching
in
the
department
included
the
introduction
(with
Jayasundera)
of
an
annual
Teaching
Retreat
and
the
establishment
of
new
undergraduate
courses
in
modern
physics,
biophysics,
quantum
information
and
particle
physics;
and
a
new
program
in
Mathematical
Physics.
The
breadth
of
Prof.
Mann’s
impact
includes
excellent
administration,
impressive
research
and
graduate
student
supervision.
But
none
of
these
contributions
is
more
important
than
his
superb
contributions
to
undergraduate
teaching
where
the
seeds
of
the
next
generation
of
physicists
are
planted.
Robert
Mann
came
to
the
University
of
Waterloo
in
1987
on
an
NSERC
University
Research
Fellowship.
He
has
always
valued
teaching,
and
his
teaching
excellence
goes
hand
in
hand
with
his
stature
as
an
internationally
recognized
theoretical
physicist
with
over
450
publications.
In
2009
he
received
the
Teaching
Excellence
Award
from
the
Ontario
Undergraduate
Student
Alliance;
in
2010
he
was
awarded
the
University
of
Waterloo’s
Distinguished
Teaching
Award,
and
in
2014
the
University
of
Waterloo’s
Award
of
Excellence
in
Graduate
Supervision.
Prof.
Mann
was
one
of
the
driving
forces
behind
the
establishment
of
the
CAP's
Award
for
Excellence
in
Teaching
High
School/CEGEP
Physics
which
recognizes
outstanding
teaching
at
the
high
school/cegep/college
level
in
five
regions
across
Canada
every
year.
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.
Mann
will
be
presented
with
his
medal
at
a
Medallists'
Recognition
Dinner
in
Vancouver
on
Wednesday,
June
5,
2019.
The
Awards
Dinner
is
one
of
the
featured
events
of
the
CAP
Congress
hosted
by
Simon
Fraser
University
in
Burnaby,
BC,
from
June
2-7.
Please
refer
to
the
Congress
outline
(https://www.cap.ca/congress-conference/congress-2019/2019-congress-glance/)
for
the
schedule
of
plenary
talks
by
the
CAP
medal
winners.
Republished from the Canadian Association of Physics press release