Spring Convocation - Students - University of Saskatchewan

Master Teacher Award
VIPEN SAWHNEY
Professor Vipen Sawhney provides a
perfect example of the teacher-scholar
envisaged in the mission statement
of the University of Saskatchewan.
Over the past 30 plus years, Professor
Sawhney has established a reputation
as an outstanding teacher, all the
while dispatching administrative tasks
with ease and maintaining a first rate
research program, with a co-edited
book and over 100 refereed papers to
his credit.
A perusal of comments from teaching
questionnaires and letters from
students reveals an amazing teacher.
Professor Sawhney’s lectures, which
combine overhead transparencies,
videos, stories, humorous anecdotes
and colourful PowerPoint presentations
capture the imagination of his students
and make biology come alive. Each
of Vipen’s lectures is a model of
organization and clarity, but Vipen’s
trademark is his dedication to and
enthusiasm for biology, particularly
plants. His impact on undergraduate
students is captured in the following
quotation from a first year student.
“Indeed, we all knew that he loved
biology and that though his specialty
was plants, he too had a favourite
animal: the elephant. We also saw that
he was quite a dancer, as he tried to
show us how the living cell was not
static, but rather dynamic. It was this
passion for his work that first caught
my attention.” And later in the same
letter, “ So how has this affected my life
as a student It gave me a new sense of
confidence. Dr. Sawhney turned me on
to learning and really thinking rather
than simply studying to ace an exam”.
Equally important to Professor
Sawhney’s passion for biology is
his compassion for his students.
He truly cares for them and wants
them to achieve, not only in his
biology classes, but in life. A former
graduate student wrote: “He always
took a personal interest in his
students, ensuring newcomers to the
city/country were welcomed and
comfortable. A central gathering table
was a focal part of the laboratory. This
provided a relaxed atmosphere and
encouraged the interchange between
people of different cultural and
religious backgrounds, thus providing
more than just a scientific education”.
A biology colleague put it this way,
“Beyond the actual technique of
teaching, I believe that Vipen’s attitude
toward his students is the major factor
contributing to his efforts. He treats
them with respect and in every way
encourages them to expend their best
effort to obtain the maximum benefit
from their work. His approach to them
is open and friendly and he is always
ready to offer help and support to
anyone who experiences difficulties.”
Vipen Sawhney is a truly gifted
teacher. But perhaps more importantly,
he is a fine human being. He is kind
and thoughtful, and always strives to
improve the lives of those around him.
University of Saskatchewan 28 Spring Convocation 2007