UBC Reports | Vol. 47 | No. 09 | May 10, 2001

Dynamic teaching earns faculty Killam awards

Recipients recommended by students and colleagues

A relentlessly entertaining rock-hound is how students describe structural geologist Lori Kennedy, an assistant professor of Earth and Ocean Sciences.

Kennedy is one of 23 faculty members who will receive University Killam Teaching Prizes during Spring Congregation.

Since joining the faculties of Graduate Studies and Science five years ago, Kennedy has emphasized process-based learning in which she combines experiments and fieldwork to further understand the process of the shaping of the earth's crust.

"Geology is not just naming rocks," says the 35-year-old New Brunswick native. "It's understanding how the earth works."

After obtaining undergraduate and master's degrees in Geology from the University of New Brunswick, Kennedy earned a PhD at Texas A & M University.

"Coming to UBC has been great because it allowed me to return to Canada to continue working in one of the best natural laboratories -- the Canadian cordillera."

She teaches basic and advanced structural geology to undergraduate students from various geology disciplines. She also co-teaches, with Assoc. Prof. Greg Dipple, a graduate course in her specialty area -- the role of fluids in the mechanics of natural rock deformation.

Kennedy co-leads a graduate field trip where students are introduced to the tectonics, or large-scale structural features caused by deformation, of southwestern B.C. The outings satisfy her love of the outdoors and allow her to work one-on-one with students.

"I think it's important that students learn the geology of their own backyard," she says. "There's also a camaraderie that develops that comes back to the classroom."

Kennedy says her students keep her honest and up-to-date scientifically with their rigorous questioning.

"Structural geologists need to think in 3-D and that can be difficult for some students," she says. "I love to see students understand the concept and then push it one step further with their questions."

Killam Teaching Prize winners are selected by their faculties on the basis of recommendations from students and colleagues. Each winner receives $5,000 from university endowment sources.

Recipients are distinguished by their creativity, commitment and dynamic approach to learning.

Other Killam Teaching Prize recipients for 2001 include: Faculty of Applied Science: Ray Meadowcroft, Metals and Materials Engineering * Faculty of Agricultural Sciences: Mahesh Upadhyaya, Agroecology * Faculty of Arts: Siân Echard, English; Harry Edinger, Classical, Near Eastern and Religious Studies; Alan Richardson, Philosophy; Maureen Ryan, Fine Arts; Anne Scott, French, Hispanic and Italian Studies * Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration: Mari-Ann Linde * Faculty of Dentistry: Joanne Walton, Oral Health Sciences * Faculty of Education: Ann Anderson, Curriculum Studies; William McKee, Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education * Faculty of Forestry: Robert Kozak, Wood Science * Faculty of Graduate Studies: Leonora Angeles, School of Community and Regional Planning * Faculty of Law: Stephan Salzberg, Centre for Asian Legal Studies * Faculty of Medicine: Harvey Lui, Dermatology; Gordon Page, Educational Support and Development; Anthony Pearson, Physiology * School of Nursing: Sally Thorne * Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences: Lynda Eccott, Pharmacy Practice * Faculty of Science: Shona Ellis, Botany; Kurt Grimm, Earth and Ocean Sciences; Thomas Carefoot, Zoology.