Dr. Rafael de la Madrid wins David J. Beck Teaching Excellence Award

Lamar University physics professor Dr. Rafael de la Madrid has been named the recipient of the 2024-2025 David J. Beck Teaching Excellence Award. The award honors faculty who demonstrate outstanding teaching or bring distinction to the university through innovative instructional methods.

De la Madrid has taught a range of courses at Lamar, including introductory physics with and without calculus, classical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, relativity, and quantum mechanics, as well as laboratory sections. His teaching style emphasizes active learning, with students engaging in problem-solving, demonstrations, and peer discussion to develop a deeper understanding of physics.

He has also mentored more than 30 undergraduate students in research projects, including studies in dark matter searches, NASA reduced-gravity experiments, and experimental work on droplet motion. These projects have led to six peer-reviewed publications co-authored with undergraduate students, providing hands-on research experience comparable to work at major research universities.