The Canadian Association of Physicists and the Canadian Association of Physicists Foundation are thrilled to announce the creation of the Allan Carswell Physics Educator Scholarship, made possible by a very generous gift from the Carswell Family Foundation. Starting in 2020, the Allan Carswell Physics Educator Scholarship, valued at up to $5000, will be awarded annually. Up to two such scholarships will be awarded each year to physics students with a strong academic record and who are passionate about teaching. Applicants must have completed or be enrolled in the final year of a physics degree at a Canadian university and plan to enroll in a Canadian post-degree teacher training program that leads to a provincial teaching license, such as an After-Degree Bachelor of Education program. This scholarship recognizes the critical importance and value of having people who are trained in, and passionate about, physics engaging young Canadians in the classrooms of this country.
The global economy has evolved to become more dependent on innovation as we face challenges ranging from climate change to the medical needs of an aging population. Those with a physics education are ideally suited to solve the problems of today. Yet the impact that physics and those with a physics education have on everyday lives is not widely understood.
The Allan Carswell Physics Educator Scholarship will raise awareness at all levels of society that physics education is a vital, highly valued and rewarding career path while reinforcing the fact that a major in physics is valuable for many careers, not just research. Educators at all levels are crucial in that they must provide students of all genders and backgrounds with the passion, confidence and science literacy that will inspire them to seek out and succeed in gaining a physics education at the university level.
The Allan Carswell Physics Educator Scholarship is designed to increase the number of highly qualified and dedicated physics teachers by, on the one hand, encouraging physics majors to pursue an post-degree teacher training program and, on the other, encouraging physics educators to first complete a BSc in Physics before enrolling in the teacher-training program of their choice.
Details of the scholarship, including criteria, the nature of the award and application procedures, are given in the attached document. Please distribute it as widely as possible in order to bring this exciting opportunity to the attention of all potential applicants. We ask that you make every effort to encourage all physics graduates, or students in their final year, who have a strong academic record and enjoying teaching to apply, including those from groups that are under-represented in physics.
Thank you for working with us to encourage and inspire a new generation of outstanding physics educators.
Sincerely,
CAP and CAPF Presidents
Allan_Carswell_Physics_Educator_Scholarship_Announcement_Final_Dec2019.pdf
Annonce_de_la_bourse_Allan_Carswell_denseignement_en_physique.pdf