Dr. Sarah Johnson

University Lecturer, Simon Fraser University

physics, post-secondary education, physics education, women in STEM, girls in STEM, girls in physics, public outreach

Media

Starry Lights

An inquiry video for classroom use about electromagnetic spectra and how astronomers use them to learn about stars. Linked to the BC Science 8 curriculum.

SFU in Burnaby on The Express March 30, 2011 part 1

Erin Shaw stops by a Physics Workshop for girls at SFU

SFU Apologizes for 'sexist' Sweater Day video

CTV, February 4, 2016Television

URL: https://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=801692

Interview about an inappropriate video that my university released.

Physics Outreach

Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP), November 1, 2017Print

URL: https://pic-pac.cap.ca/static/downloads/eba6a6c6ef1352a1ff03fb2abdd761915eb252dd.pdf

Editor's foreward for special edition of Physics in Canada

Interview with Sarah Johnson, Recipient of the CAP’s 2018 Medal for Excellence in Teaching Undergraduate Physics

Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP), September 1, 2018Print

URL: https://pic-pac.cap.ca/static/downloads/9402d2d5cd552f5e2caf5523d898ff5609376015.pdf

Women and girls in science – still an uphill climb

Physics: An Algebra-based Approach, 2nd Ed
by Joanne O'Meara, Sarah D. Johnson, Ernie McFarland, Alan Hirsh, Javed Iqbal
Nelson/Top Hat
March 31, 2020
978-0176817336

Class-tested by over 10,000 students, Physics: An Algebra-Based Approach promotes problem-solving skills development while helping students better understand physics. The addition to the second edition of two new authors has brought fresh ideas and approaches to the material while maintaining the core values of clarity, consistency, and attention to detail. Based on the latest findings from physics education research (PER), this title focuses on student understanding through the use of engaging real-life applications, unique Fermi problems, conceptual examples, free-body diagrams in mechanics, and concept fixes based on research into common student misconceptions.

Biography

Dr. Sarah D. Johnson is a University Lecturer in the Department of Physics at Simon Fraser University. She began working at SFU in 2005, after spending 11 years teaching undergraduate physics at three different universities in the USA. Johnson earned a B.S. in Physics from SUNY Albany in 1986 and an M.A. (1988) and Ph.D. (1993) in experimental particle physics from the University of Rochester. She has contributed to the physics curriculum at SFU in numerous ways, including the development of innovative Studio Physics courses, the introduction of active tutorials in large first-year classes, and the incorporation of recent advancements in Physics Education Research. Johnson has introduced physics to the public by encouraging more young women to study physics through outreach initiatives she has created, including the Girls Exploring Physics program and the yearly Science Spooktacular event.

Johnson has been recognized for her contributions to education and outreach with the Faculty of Science Excellence in Teaching Award (2012), the SFU Excellence in Outreach and Public Engagement Award (2017) and the CAP Medal for Excellence in Teaching Undergraduate Physics (2018).

Recognition/Reconnaissance

SFU Excellence in Science Public Engagement and Outreach Award 2017 | Professional

These two (2) awards recognize SFU faculty, staff or students who are making substantial and sustained contributions to community engagement and outreach by sharing science with the public.

The award is an important way to highlight, both within SFU and in our surrounding community, SFU people who are engaging the public with science, and in doing so increasing awareness of the key role that science plays in society.

CAP 2018 Medal for Excellence in Teaching Undergraduate Physics | Professional

The CAP Medal for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching is to honour faculty members who possess an ability to communicate their knowledge and understanding in such a way as to lead their students to high academic achievement in physics.

Research Grants

Girls Exploring Physics

Organization: NSERC PromoScience
Date: March 1, 2016
Grant amount: $20,000

Details:

Girls Exploring Physics (GEP) is a twice-yearly workshop series for girls in grades 9 and 10. The primary goal of this program is to encourage more young women to consider physics as a career path. Another goal is to work with secondary science teachers to foster an appreciation of physics among their students, especially among groups under-represented in physics and engineering. The workshops are held on campus at Simon Fraser University and include two experimental physics activities, a networking lunch with women physicists, an observatory tour and a discussion of career options in physics. The requested PromoScience funding will enable us to enhance our workshops, expand our youth enrolment and add a yearly professional development workshop for local teachers. Over the next three years GEP hopes to reach approximately 360 young women ages 13-16 and 180 secondary teachers in British Columbia.

More information: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Promoter-Promotion/PromoScience-PromoScience/Recipients-Laureats/index_eng.asp?Year=2015

Expertise

  • physics
  • post-secondary education
  • physics education
  • women in STEM
  • girls in STEM
  • girls in physics
  • public outreach