Citations honour for two ANU lecturers

17 Sep 2012

Two ANU lecturers have been awarded Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning as part of the Australian Awards for University Teaching.

Dr Krisztina Valter

ANU Medical School, and ARC Centre of Excellence in Vision Science, CMBE

Citation: For inspirational teaching through the development of authentic, innovative, interactive and engaging teaching approaches, curricula and resources in Medical Sciences.

Dr Mark Ellison

Research School of Chemistry, CPMS

Citation: For outstanding commitment to chemistry education and many years of inspiring students to learn chemistry by showing why it is important, relevant and exciting.

Dr Krisztina Valter from the ARC Centre of Excellence in Vision Science and first-year chemistry coordinator, Dr Mark Ellison, were among the outstanding university staff from across the nation announced as awardees by Minister for Tertiary Education Senator Chris Evans today.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Young congratulated Dr Valter and Dr Ellison, who is also a national chemistry teaching award winner.

"These Citations are recognition of the exceptional standard of educators and courses we have here at ANU. Mark and Krisztina's dedication to their students is outstanding and it is wonderful to see their hard work rewarded on a national level," he said.

Dr Ellison said he felt honoured to receive a Citation, which he says wouldn't have been a possibility without the support of other members of the University.

"I feel very privileged to be awarded a Citation for Contributions to Student Learning," he said.

"It is not possible to provide the high level of support for the students as an individual. This award certainly reflects many years of working with an excellent team of educators, including peer mentors, postgraduate teaching fellows and laboratory demonstrators, to enhance the first-year chemistry experience.

"I thank the Centre for Higher Education, Learning and Teaching team for the support with preparing the application and the students over many years to whom I have had the pleasure of demonstrating that chemistry can be enjoyable and rewarding."

The awards will be presented in a ceremony in Sydney on 25 September.