Trent University Names Dr. Tom Hutchinson as the 2011/12 Recipient of the Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Faculty member displays exemplary teaching in Environmental and Resource Science/Studies

Thursday, March 8, 2011, Peterborough

Trent University is pleased to announce that Dr. Tom Hutchinson, a professor emeritus in Trent’s Environmental and Resource Science/Studies program, will be presented with the Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching at the 2012 spring convocation ceremonies.

Established in 1976, the Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching is made available through the generous support of Trent’s founding president, Professor Tom Symons and his wife, Christine. The award is presented annually to a faculty or staff member who displays exemplary teaching and concern for students. This is the 35th year that the Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching has been conferred.

“The Symons Award not only recognizes outstanding teaching at this University, but also, and especially, exemplary concern for students,” said Dr. Steven E. Franklin, Trent’s president and vice-chancellor. “In Dr. Hutchinson’s case, it is evident from the testimonials that he embraces his professorship with genuine interest in the success of his students and sheer enthusiasm for the subjects that he teaches.”

Professor Hutchinson’s research interests include the impacts of pollutants, such as acid rain, sulphur dioxide, heavy metals and ozone on natural and agricultural ecosystems and the restoration of seriously contaminated abandoned mine sites at Sudbury and in the Yukon, which has helped his involvement in the Trent-Fleming Ecological Restoration degree program. Prof. Hutchinson has also worked extensively in the arctic and boreal forest areas and in southern Ontario, and for many years on the response of natural ecosystems to oil spills in the Arctic.

Prof. Hutchinson’s agricultural interests include concerns about the loss of genetic resources in livestock. For a number of years, he ran the national office for the main Canadian livestock conservation group Rare Breeds Canada at Trent. Dr. Hutchinson is also interested in the history of agricultural changes over the past 150 years in the Peterborough area and in present efforts of sustainable farming systems.
“In receiving the Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching, Prof. Hutchinson is recognized for the unique educational opportunities he has provided in the study, observation and practice of sustainable agriculture. Prof. Hutchinson is also recognized for the exemplary concern he exhibits in many ways, including his enthusiasm about his students, about their work and their research, and through his generosity of granting students access to his farm property to complete their research and experiments,” explained Dr. Jocelyn Aubrey, when she announced the award at the March 6, 2012 meeting of Senate.

“One invaluable aspect of my agricultural classes,” said Prof. Hutchinson, “is that we take the students out to many farms in the Peterborough area, where they meet the farmers and their families and get the chance to see what goes on and to ask lots of questions. The farmers have been marvellous in taking time out to meet the classes, often being invaded with 30+ students at a time. We visit all kinds of farms, and agri-businesses, with many different approaches, philosophies and products.”

In reference to his effective pedagogical approach, one nominator commented: “He creates these extraordinary farm adventures of contrast and interest, draws out the host farmer, prompts his students, helps them observe differently, to find the link to their course work and farm plan projects.  His is no abstract text-book based approach to agriculture.”

 “It is clear that Prof. Hutchinson has made a remarkable impact upon his students,” explained Dr. David Poole, the chair of the Teaching Awards Sub-committee, “an accomplishment for which he should be justifiably proud.”

In learning about this award recognition, Prof. Hutchinson commented: “I love teaching, I always have and I love doing research and farming. Agriculture fascinates me, as does the environment. It is a great pleasure to find students so interested too. I hope through my teaching to inspire them to want to learn much more and to seek answers to current questions and in particular, to put their knowledge to practical purposes. This all comes down to encouraging them to try to make their and our world a better place. It really needs lots of help. This may not be an original thought but it is true!”

Prof. Hutchinson will be among four internal teaching award recipients honoured at a special reception celebrating Trent’s teaching excellence on Wednesday, April 4 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Lady Eaton College’s Pit. Presentations will begin at 4:15 p.m. All are welcome.

To read the full story, visit: www.trentu.ca/newsevents

To learn more about Trent’s teaching excellence visit:  www.trentu.ca/teaching

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For information about Prof. Hutchinson’s teaching and research, please contact:
Dr. Tom Hutchinson, 705-748-1011, ext. 1634; thutchinson@trentu.ca

For information regarding the Celebration of Excellence in Teaching reception, please contact: Angie Best, Trent University, 705-748-1011, ext. 7254, angiebest@trentu.ca