A commitment to optimizing student interest in physics has won UWindsor professor Chitra Rangan the 2015 Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) Medal for Excellence in Teaching Undergraduate Physics.

Dr. Rangan’s research interests in the areas of atomic and molecular physics and recent work in medical physics are complemented by her study of the education process to foster the achievement of the whole student through the development of critical thought and personal skills.

Her teaching contributions extend to local high schools as well, where she is involved in outreach initiatives to encourage post-secondary interest in the study of physics at all levels. She recently launched Promotion of Experiential and Research-Based Learning and was awarded one of the first University of Windsor Teaching Leadership Chairs.

“I am thrilled and humbled that my colleagues and students nominated and supported me for this national award,” Rangan says. “Thanks to the CAP for valuing and promoting undergraduate physics teaching excellence.”

In addition to supporting 31 undergraduate research projects since her arrival at UWindsor in 2004, Rangan serves as chair of the Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Canada division of CAP, is a member of CAP Council, and currently heads the UWindsor Department of Physics.

The Canadian Association of Physicists, founded in 1945, is a professional association representing more than 1,600 individual physicists and physics student in Canada, the U.S. and abroad, as well as a number of corporate, institutional and departmental members. In addition to research and professional activities, the CAP also undertakes a number of activities intended to encourage students to pursue careers in physics.