勛圖厙

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An aerial photo of the UVic campus with a blue overlay, plus text that reads, "Reach Awards,  recognizing research and teaching excellence."

2024 REACH awards

The REACH Awards recognize outstanding achievement at the 勛圖厙. They honour the extraordinary teachers and researchers who lead the way in dynamic learning and make a meaningful impact at UVic.

“These awards celebrate and recognize our amazing faculty and graduate students who demonstrate their commitment to excellence in teaching, research and creative activity. This year’s 18 distinguished honourees are inspiring teachers and researchers who are making a real difference in our communities, both locally and globally. Congratulations to all award recipients and nominees and thank you for your leadership and passion.”

UVic President and Vice-Chancellor Kevin Hall, PhD

Research awards

David H. Turpin Gold Medal for Career Achievement in Research
Arif Babul.

Dr. Arif Babul - Physics and Astronomy

Arif is an internationally acclaimed astrophysicist who leads groundbreaking work on the impact of feedback on galaxies and larger cosmic structures. Arif was among the first to discover the influence of black holes on massive cosmic structures. He is a foremost authority on the assembly and the physics of galaxy groups and clusters and was recently elected Fellow of the American Physical Society for his transformative impact on our understanding of foundational astrophysical phenomena. Arif also leads the development of the first-ever deep-learning neural network that uses brain electrical activity to identify concussed individuals.

Silver Medal for Excellence in Research
Julia Baum.

Dr. Julia Baum - Biology

Julia Baum 勛圖厙 the resilience of marine ecosystems in the face of human disturbance. A professor of ocean ecology and global change, a UVic President’s Chair and the Special Advisor Climate, Julia catalyzes climate action initiatives and facilitates connection in the climate research community. On top of leading an internationally recognized research program, Julia is the director of the graduate training program Coastal Climate Solutions Leaders. She has been recognized throughout her career with many prestigious honours, including membership of the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists and becoming an NSERC E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellow.

Research Impact Award
Nick Dechev.

Dr. Nick Dechev - Mechanical Engineering

Nick’s core passion is the engineering design, research and development of new technology concepts into practical working systems. Nick’s research is centered on electro-mechanical system design and its application to biomedical devices and mechatronic systems. He is the founder and chief technical officer of Victoria Hand Project, a registered Canadian charity focused on providing upper-limb prosthetic devices to amputees in-need throughout the world. He has 23 years of experience in biomedical systems and product design. Business and entrepreneurship are also integral parts of his research impact, contributing to the success of Victoria Hand Project.

Excellence in Creativity and Artistic Expression
Kelly Richardson.

Professor Kelly Richardson - Visual Arts

Kelly creates video installations of rich and complex landscapes that have been manipulated using CGI, animation and sound. Taking cues from 19th-century paintings, 20th-century cinema, and 21st-century planetary research, Kelly crafts artwork that offers imaginative glimpses of the future that prompt careful consideration of the present. She is a core member of the Awi’nakola Foundation—an Indigenous-led, cross-cultural group of knowledge keepers, scientists and artists working together to find effective responses to the climate crisis and educate others through the process. Kelly’s most recent work was featured in Metallica’s 72 Seasons music video.

Early Career Award for Excellence in Research
David Leitch.

Dr. David Leitch - Chemistry

Dave and his research group map chemical space. He is an expert in the use of high-throughput experimentation to solve problems in catalysis and bond-formation. This technique has the potential to revolutionize how molecules are made, and Leitch’s group of UVic trainees are recognized internationally for their leadership in this area. In 2023, Dave was promoted with tenure and was also named a Cottrell Scholar Award. He is also one of very few Canadians to hold funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

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Christine OBonsawin.

Dr. Christine OBonsawin - History

Christine, recipient of the ʔəy̓ nəwəl ʔist | ÍY,NEUELIST | Moving forward together for the good of all | Indigenous Scholar Award for Excellence in Research, is an interdisciplinary Abenaki (Odanak Nation) scholar trained in history and sociocultural 勛圖厙 in kinesiology. Her research interests include Indigenous histories, colonialism and decolonization, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of sport and the importance of physical activity in the lives of Indigenous people. Her recent scholarship takes up questions regarding the experiences of Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit people in sport and the legal, political and land rights of Indigenous peoples in sporting spaces such as the hosting of the Olympic Games (and other mega sporting events) on unceded Indigenous territories.
Excellence in Research Partnerships Award
Makhsud Saidaminov and Sam Sahar.

Dr. Makhsud Saidaminov and Dr. Sahar Sam - Chemistry

Makhsud, a Canada Research Chair in Advanced Functional Materials, 勛圖厙 the chemistry and physics of various materials for potential applications in solar cells and optoelectronics. Partnering with Dr. Sahar Sam, CEO of Solaires Inc., Makhsud has co-developed Solar Ink™ and PVModules™, Canada’s first commercially available perovskite photovoltaic modules (advanced solar panels). Their innovative research has been supported by multiple NSERC AllianceMitacs grants and has led to four patents, 12 peer-reviewed publications and the training of 18 emerging scientists.

Teaching awards

Harry Hickman Alumni AwardExcellence in Teaching and Education
David Leach.

Professor David Leach - Writing

For two decades, David has been a pedagogical innovator, inside and outside the classroom. He has integrated emerging forms of interactive digital media (from iClickers to virtual reality) with student-driven interdisciplinary projects and community-engaged partnerships, publications and productions. As an academic leader, he has shared his knowledge and experience with colleagues in committees at every level of the university and through scholarship and hands-on demonstrations in workshops, lectures, podcasts, papers and public events to celebrate the power and potential of student-centered, project-based forms of collaborative discovery and interactive learning.

Gilian Sherwin Alumni AwardExcellence in Teaching
Gillian (Jill) Krezoski.

Gillian Krezoski - Geography

Gillian prioritizes hands-on learning and practical skill development providing geography students with marketable skills postgraduation. Students say she creates a safe space for learning, sharing and connecting and her passion and enthusiasm leave a lasting impact. Having received over $30,000 in teaching grants, Gillian has directly increased student accessibility through field-based and community-engaged learning. The field school she developed is one-of-its-kind in Canada. She is also a lead author on multiple open educational resources used province-wide, and she leads geodiversity and science and technology initiatives at UVic and in the community.

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Natasha Wawrykow.

Dr. Natasha Wawrykow - Psychology

Natasha is the recipient of the Nəc̓əmaat kʷəns čeʔi ʔay̓ šqʷeləqʷən | ĆȺNEUEL OL ÍY, ŚḰÁLEȻEN | Work together with a good heart and mind Award for Decolonization and Indigenous Anti-Racism. A member of the Skuppah Band (Nlaka’pamux Nation), Natasha strives to pursue collaborative Indigenous community-driven research topics and counselling opportunities that promote reconciliation and prosperity for the Indigenous community. Her research in Psychology highlights Indigenous ways of healing and contributes to culturally sensitive delivery of clinical service and research. Her coursework incorporates Indigenous pedagogy to teach how health can be experienced holistically for Indigenous peoples and promote strong, culturally appropriate therapeutic alliances. Her undergraduate and graduate courses on reconciliation promotion garnered national recognition and received a “Cool Course” distinction by Maclean’s Magazine.

Excellence in Graduate Student Supervision and Mentorship
Kim Venn.

Professor Kim Venn - Physics and Astronomy

Kim attracts students into science and engineering through astronomy. Her graduate courses are popular, her research students are successful, and she created a nation-wide graduate training program on New Technologies for Canadian Observatories (NTCO) that included  academic, government and industrial environments. She thrives on gathering a diverse community of experts to maximize creativity and opportunities for students, demonstrated through NTCO and her initiation of the UVic Astronomy Research Centre (ARC). ARC has increased publicity, collaboration and mentorship for UVic graduate students both locally and nationally under her direction over the past decade.

Award for Inclusive and Innovative Course Design
Violeta Iosub.

Dr. Violeta Iosub - Chemistry

Violeta is a dedicated chemistry instructor who masterfully engages large class sizes with her dynamic teaching methods. She's constantly evolving her classes to meet curriculum goals and integrate evidence-based practices. With a molecular augmented reality app for 3D visualization, Violeta takes her students on an immersive journey into the world of chemistry. She crafts inclusive learning activities, encouraging peer-to-peer instruction and leverages a variety of modalities in Brightspace, with recorded lectures and weekly forum questions. Violeta’s courses are a model for inclusive teaching practice, scaffolding learning and providing alternative ways for students to showcase their knowledge.

Andy Farquharson Teaching Excellence Award
Kushal Dhake.

Kushal Dhake - Chemistry

Kushal’s approach to teaching centres on fostering a safe, inclusive environment where students confidently explore chemistry concepts. His teaching combines deep listening with tailored instruction, helping students connect new material to prior knowledge. Kushal is an advocate for student support, and has put his advocacy into action by improving, expanding and popularizing a drop-in help centre for synthetic chemistry lab courses. Kushal’s teaching contributions extend to curriculum development, designing experimental and tutorial content to address gaps in student understanding. He is passionate about emphasizing process over answers, and cultivating a collaborative, student-led learning atmosphere that celebrates individual progress.

Andy Farquharson Teaching Excellence Award
Maheyer Shroff.

Maheyer Shroff - Physics and Astronomy

Maheyer's engaging and welcoming teaching style is rooted in his philosophy of a horizontal learning model, where educators and students interact as peers in a collaborative environment. He believes that learning flourishes when students feel comfortable and confident in asking questions, and he actively works to create this supportive, inclusive atmosphere. As an early adopter of Brightspace, Maheyer led the migration of several courses to the platform to enhance learning. He sees teaching as a continual learning process—learning from peers to refine his techniques and from students to stay current, ensuring his classroom remains engaging and relevant.

Andy Farquharson Teaching Excellence Award
Arjun Banik.

Arjun Banik - Mathematics and Statistics

Arjun adopts a student-centered, learning-oriented approach, fostering an inclusive and engaging classroom environment. He emphasizes active learning, critical thinking and real-world applications. Arjun promotes participation through techniques like "treat questions" and anonymous responses on numbered sheets, ensuring all students engage comfortably. Arjun was recognized by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics for outstanding tutorial and lab teaching. His philosophy is rooted in inclusivity, empowering students from diverse backgrounds to feel valued and motivated.

Provost awards

Advocacy and Activism Award in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
CindyAnn Rose-Redwood.

CindyAnn Rose-Redwood - Geography

The Department of Geography has benefitted from CindyAnn’s advocacy work for well over a decade. She is responsible for establishing the Department’s first equity and diversity committee as well as the Department’s first anti-racism course. More recently, these efforts have been recognized by the 2022 Social Sciences Above and Beyond Award, the 2023 American Association of Geographers Diversity and Inclusion award, and the 2024 Social Sciences Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion award. CindyAnn is a mentor to many visible minority students within the Department, which is underscored by her role as International Student Liaison. The 勛圖厙 and the field of Geography are all the better for CindyAnn’s tireless advocacy and activism work. 

Advocacy and Activism Award in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Kirk McNally.

Kirk McNally - Music

Kirk McNally’s work within the School of Music embodies the spirit of diversity, equity and inclusion. His efforts to host a diverse range of musicians has fostered a vibrant learning environment for aspiring sound engineers and producers. Kirk has also collaborated with Carey Newman, the Impact Chair in Indigenous Art Practices, on the public art installation Earth Drums, and the Virtual Reality Witness Blanket project. In 2021, Kirk hosted a four-day hybrid workshop which engaged in critical dialogue about representation within the field of music production. These engagements are a snapshot of the unique activism that Kirk brings to his field and his classroom.

Learn more

Read more about the REACH awards, view the timeline and learn how to nominate.

Past recipients

UVic is committed to recognizing research and teaching excellence.