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DocumentationWhat you can find here:
a set of teaching resources to facilitate a more contemporary and diverse representation of physicists in your classroom.
In a hurry? Download the entire slide deck here:
“Science makes people reach selflessly for truth and objectivity; it teaches people to accept reality, with wonder and admiration, not to mention the deep awe and joy that the natural order of things brings to the true scientist.” - Lise Meitner
What is the purpose of these slides?
These slides are made to be inserted supplementally into already-made teaching materials, in order to teach a particular physics concept in the context of contemporary research. By introducing concepts along with real-life examples, not only are students able to engage more with the material, they are also given exposure to a wider variety of physicists than typically represented in teaching.
Who can use these slides?
Anybody! These slides can be downloaded or used as inspiration freely. They are currently tailored for use in undergraduate level physics classes, particularly those at McGill University, but they can be used in any classroom. Some slides include basic introductory material that could be suitable for high school level teaching. Feel free to download and tailor the slides to your liking, or simply copy certain aspects into your own presentation.
How did we choose who to feature?
Our selection of researchers are based off of physicists we admire, as physicists. We queried the McGill Physics Department to submit profiles of contemporary or underrepresented historical physicists who were producing or had produced high-impact research in their field, and they felt deserved recognition. Specifically, we focused on researchers who's work could be presented as a teachable physics moment for undergraduate students.
If you wish to recommend a researcher to be featured in this slide deck for your own teaching, or just because you think they're super awesome, go here:
Recommend a Physicist!This page and its content were created by Katherine Savard and updated by Mikey Baker, Amélie Chiasson David, Parker Sherry, and Samantha Wong.
Image credit for opening banner: Sandbox Studio, Chicago, with Ana Kova for Symmetry magazine
Last updated: September 2025