Zoology Assoc. Prof. Lee Gass is one of 10 Canadian university educators named
as 3M Teaching Fellows this year.
“My responsibility is for students to learn, however that happens,” says Gass.
Gass is the seventh UBC faculty member to receive the award since its inception
in 1986. To date, 140 Canadian university educators from 35 universities have
been given the fellowships in recognition of their excellence in teaching as
well as leadership and commitment to improving university teaching across disciplines.
A total of 43 nominations were received from 24 Canadian universities this
year.
“Lee sets a standard of excellence for faculty and students,” says Barry McBride,
vice-president, Academic and Provost. “He is a creative, demanding, courageous
and caring teacher who challenges students to become actively involved in learning.”
From the beginning, Gass taught by inquiry and has helped colleagues increase
student participation in their classrooms.
“Lee is one of the most original and creative teachers I have encountered,”
says Science Dean Maria Klawe. “Students often tell me that he has completely
changed the way they see the world and themselves. We are very lucky to have
him at UBC.”
“He’s always been the farthest one in front in terms of pedagogical approach,”
says Zoology Head James Berger. “He is just such a phenomenal story-teller so
he uses that gift to draw things out of students and has been a real pioneer
in moving people to a more learner or student-centred approach.”
An innovative educator with 35 years of teaching experience, Gass was instrumental
in developing UBC’s Science One program — an interdisciplinary first-year program
that uses a team approach among professors to teach an integrated science curriculum.
“The students learn the material from different points of view and at the
same time learn to question their own and others’ knowledge and learn that science
is a cultural activity,” says Gass.
Gass also helped design and deliver the first course, “The Size of Things,”
in a new Integrated Sciences degree program launched in 1998. The program allows
students to design their own degrees by selecting existing courses in two or
more disciplines.
Gass was one of the creators of Science First, an independent, lunch-time
lecture series for undergraduate students in which scientists tell the story
of their life and their work.
Since Gass gave the inaugural lecture in 1996, the series has attracted a
large and diverse audience of students, graduate students and faculty each year.
In April, Gass was awarded the University’s Killam Prize for Excellence in
Teaching.
When he is not in the classroom, Gass researches the behaviour of hummingbirds
and carves stone sculptures.
The award is sponsored by 3M Canada Inc. and the Society for Teaching and
Learning in Higher Education.
