The University of Waterloo honoured 125 educators and researchers who have received the President’s Excellence in Teaching and Research awards 2020 in an online celebration that recognized their contributions to the Waterloo community and beyond.
“There is a tremendous amount of talent at the University of Waterloo and your contribution has stood out and benefited our entire community,” Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-provost, said. “The Waterloo community remains inspired by our educators’ and our researchers’ immense dedication and recognizes contributions made in their field.”
Ninety-two distinguished researchers from across six faculties were honoured with prestigious research awards from the University and external organizations. “The role of research is invaluable,” Hamdullahpur said. “We strategically place it as a priority for the University of Waterloo, because we know that people like you are creating real-world change that makes a critical impact on our society.”
Thirty-three distinguished educators from across the University’s six faculties were honoured for excellence in teaching. James Rush, vice-president academic and provost, said, as an educator, he shares in the excitement of innovating in the classroom.
“Our willingness to take risks and embrace new approaches distinguished us from the beginning,” Rush said. “And during this time of change, your boundary-pushing research and your innovations in teaching the next generation are more important now than ever.”
Thank you to our world-class educators and researchers for their work and dedication, and congratulations to all of the award winners from the Faculty of Science!
Teaching Award winners from the Faculty of Science:
Marcus Abramovitch
Chemistry
- Amit and Meena Chakma Award for Exceptional Teaching by a Student, University of Waterloo
Laura Deakin
Chemistry
- Excellence in Science Teaching Award, Faculty of Science
Heidi Fernandes
School of Pharmacy
- Amit and Meena Chakma Award for Exceptional Teaching by a Student, University of Waterloo
Patricia Hrynchak
School of Optometry and Vision Science
- Diplomate of Optometric Education, American Academy of Optometry
Brenda Lee
Physics and Astronomy
- 2019 Award for Teaching Excellence, Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance
Robert Mann
Physics and Astronomy
- Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) Medal for Excellence in Teaching Undergraduate Physics, Canadian Association of Physicists
Nardine Nakhla
School of Pharmacy
- Excellence in Science Teaching Award, Faculty of Science
Mark Servos
Biology
- Stephen J. Klaine Environmental Education Award, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Philippe Van Cappellen
Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Award of Excellence in Graduate Supervision, Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs
Research Award winners from the Faculty of Science:
Niayesh Afshordi
Physics and Astronomy/Waterloo Centre for Astrophysics
- 2019 Buchalter Cosmology first place Prize (shared with Jahed Abedi from Albert Einstein Institute), Buchalter Research Foundation
Nandita Basu
Civil Environmental Engineering/Earth and Environmental Science/Water Insitute
- Member, Royal Society of Canada, College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists
-University Research Chair, University of Waterloo
Avery Broderick
Physics and Astronomy
- 2020 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, Breakthrough Prize Board
- 2020 Einstein Medal, Albert Einstein Society
- Diamond Achievement Award, National Science Foundation
- Bruno Rossi Prize, American Astronomical Society
- American Ingenuity Award, Smithsonian Institute
- 2019 Breakthrough of the Year, Science AAAS
- 2019 Breakthrough of the Year, Physics Today
Paul Craig
Biology
- Ontario Early Researcher, Government of Ontario
Michel Gingras
Physics and Astronomy
- Fellow, Royal Society of Canada
K. Rajibul Islam
Physics and Astronomy/Institute for Quantum Computing
- Early Researcher Award, Government of Ontario
Lyndon Jones
School of Optometry/Centre for Ocular Research Education
- BCLA Medal, British Contact Lens Associate
- Lester Janoff Cornea and Contact Lens Memorial Award, AOCLE
- Peter Abel Award, Association of German Contact Lenses-Specialists and Optometrists (VDCO)
Raymond Laflamme
Physics and Astronomy/Institute for Quantum Computing
- Order of Canada, Governor General
Christine Muschik
Physics and Astronomy/IQC
- Sloan Research Fellowship, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
Linda Nazar
Chemistry/Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology
- Highly Cited Researcher (Chemistry), Clarivate Analytics
- Highly Cited Researcher (Materials Science), Clarivate Analytics
- 2019 Chemical Institute of Canada Medal, Chemical Institute of Canada
Josh Neufeld
Biology/Waterloo Centre for Microbial Research
- University Research Chair, University of Waterloo
Carol Ptacek
Earth and Environmental Sciences/Water Institute
- University Research Chair, University of Waterloo
Pavle Radovanovic
Chemistry/Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology
- Keith Laidler Award, Chemical Institute of Canada
Derek Schipper
Chemistry/Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology/Institute for Polymer Research
- Ontario Early Researcher, Government of Ontario
Donna Strickland
Physics and Astronomy
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, Royal Society of Canada
- Companion of the Order of Canada, Governor General
- Honorary Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, Canadian Academy of Engineering
- Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Physics, Institute of Physics, UK
- Julio Peláez Prize, Tatiana Pérez de Guzmán el Bueno Foundation
- George Eastman Medal, University of Rochester
- Rochester Distinguished Scholar, University of Rochester
- Honourary Doctorate, INRS
- Honourary Doctorate, McMaster University
- Honourary Doctorate, Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo
- Golden Plate of Achievement, Academy of Achievement
- Inducted into International Women's Hall of Fame, International Women's Forum
Chris Yakymchuk
Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Ontario Early Researcher, Government of Ontario