Associate Professor Heather Purdie has won the prestigious University of Canterbury Teaching Medal for 2022.
Through earthquakes, Covid-19 disruptions, and the environmental effects of a warming world, Associate Professor Purdie finds innovative ways to engage students in glaciology, geography and te ao Māori, developing their social and analytical skills, and weaving in her love of the outdoors as well.
Students respond exceptionally well to Associate Professor Purdie, as reflected in their course feedback. “Incredibly passionate about all the topics covered in lectures, which made the content engaging and interesting,” was one typical comment. “Her passion was contagious! She made the ideas so exciting as she brought so much enthusiasm to the subject,” wrote another student.
As the first in her family to go to university, Associate Professor Purdie understands students in similar situations. She worked hard to reach her goals, completing her bachelor’s degree in geography extramurally while doing shift work. If it was quiet, she says she could be working on an assignment at 3am. Earning scholarships for her postgraduate studies, she later studied on-campus at Massey University for her master’s degree and returned to distance learning while undertaking her PhD research (studying the Tasman Glacier) through Victoria University of Wellington.
Despite the accolades, including a UC Teaching Award, an Ako Aotearoa teaching award, numerous nominations for Lecturer of the Year awards, and now the UC Teaching Medal, Associate Professor Purdie is still working to improve her teaching, such as incorporating Pasifika perspectives and expanding on students’ analytical thinking.
“You’ve got to evolve, you can’t get stuck in your ways,” she says.
