17 March 2009 Award for Excellence in Tertiary Teaching for Toxicology Professor

Associate Professor Ravi Gooneratne has dedicated over 20 years to the pursuit of excellence in teaching and research at Lincoln University and consistently displays outstanding ability across a range of teaching activities.

His enthusiasm for science has led to a very full and productive academic career, notable for innovation and communication. These hallmarks of the good teacher are clearly seen in Associate Professor Gooneratne's commitment to his specific disciplinary area, Toxicology.

He was the first to introduce the discipline of Toxicology to the undergraduate curriculum of a New Zealand university. That was in 1991 and in the years since then he has been responsible for introducing many additional further educational initiatives in Toxicology. These include developing short courses; linking research scholarship activities to Toxicology teaching; developing international collaborative teaching arrangements; and initiating national and overseas linkages in research.

In his subject delivery, Associate Professor Gooneratne uses a cluster of contemporary technologies including problem-solving real-life case studies, computer animations, computer simulations, Internet-based resources, audio-visuals, popular magazine articles and a novel initiative involving newspaper clippings on topical toxicology issues in which he relates science to the real-life situations as reported in the news media. In all of these areas student responsiveness is positive, as reflected in consistently high teaching performance evaluations.

Over the years, in higher level classes, he has moved away from predominantly lecture-based instruction to more self-instructional, computer-assisted, and case-based learning.

Associate Professor Gooneratne's career is notable for the energy he has shown in taking Toxicology beyond Lincoln University to the local community, the rest of New Zealand, and to the Asia-Pacific region. Through engagement with the media, extension programmes for professional bodies and interested individuals, and through international teaching and research exchanges Professor Gooneratne has advanced the learning and understanding of Toxicology on many fronts and won the respect of diverse audiences, both lay and academic.

As a teacher his on-going aims are to further sharpen the societal, national and international focus of his educational activities and continue enhancing the preparation of students for satisfying and rewarding careers globally.

Associate Professor Gooneratne's ability as a university educator has already been recognised twice before by Lincoln University with Excellence Awards - in 1994 for Excellence in Research and in 2003 for Excellence in Teaching Innovation. Today Lincoln University is once again delighted to applaud his accomplishments, with an Excellence Award for Tertiary Teaching