Golovchenko and Johnson win Fannie Cox Prize

The recipients of the 2015 Fannie Cox Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching are Jene Golovchenko, Rumford Professor of Physics and Gordon McKay Professor of Applied Physics, and John Johnson, Professor of Astronomy. The Fannie Cox prize recognizes exceptional teaching in introductory science courses and is made possible by a generous gift from alumnus Gardner Hendrie ’54 and consists of a $10,000 personal award and $40,000 in unrestricted support for teaching and research. A faculty committee comprised of members from across the sciences, including previous awardees, recommends recipients 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 Physicsand 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. 

John Johnson is lauded by his students for his “inverted classroom” model and “team-based problem solving approach.”  His ability to challenge students to learn the material has, by all accounts, “transformed” and “revolutionized” the introductory Astronomy course, “Stellar and Planetary Astronomy.”  When asked to comment on his unique techniques, it was said that John gives his students “the opportunity to tackle a problem their own way. John’s passion is getting the students to realize that the things they thought they could never do, they are now capable of doing well.”