Sherwin Tjia

Donald Niven

Department of Natural Resource Science

Macdonald Campus Award for Teaching Excellence

Benoît Côté, chair of the department of natural resource sciences, wrote that Donald Niven makes an effort in the required first-year courses that he teaches. "One student even wrote last year that the Microbial World course was a very funny course. Who would have guessed that sitting in a microbiology lecture could be an alternative medicine to lift your spirit or boost your morale during these long and gray winter days."

I must admit that I didn't really set out to be an academic — the opportunity arose and I seized it, a decision that I have never regretted.

I don't have a favourite class per se. However, I do prefer to teach in courses that have a laboratory component — I really enjoy the interaction with the students.

For me, one of my most memorable experiences was when a student took her father to one of my lectures!