Â鶹AV’s Brian Alters honored by Royal Society of Canada
World-famous work on the promotion of education about evolution garners McNeil Medal
Dr. Brian Alters, director of Â鶹AV's Tomlinson Project in University-Level Science Education, has been awarded the 2009 McNeil Medal for the Public Awareness of Science by the Royal Society of Canada (RSC). The medal was presented to Alters for his world-famous work on the promotion of education about evolution.
"The study and practice of science is based on observation, measurement and logical conclusions," says Alters. "My goal is to make science less threatening to people."
RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada is the senior national body of distinguished Canadian scholars, artists and scientists. The primary objective of the RSC is the promotion of learning and research in the arts and sciences. Consisting of nearly 2000 Fellows, the RSC is selected by their peers for outstanding contributions to the natural and social sciences, in the arts and in the humanities. As Canada's national academy, the RSC exists to recognize academic excellence, to advise governments and organizations, and to promote Canadian culture.
Three Â鶹AV researchers were also elected as Fellows to the RSC in recognition of their outstanding scientific achievements. Bruce Reed, School of Computer Science; Vincent Giguère, Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Centre; and Allan Sniderman, MUHC Division of Cardiology are among the 77 new Fellows. This year's new Fellows will be inducted at a ceremony to be held on Nov. 28-29 in Ottawa.