University Award for Excellence in Teaching
David M. Cook, 1990
"David Cook, you are a most appropriate recipient of this award, for you make a delight what can be a fearsome venture into the field of physics. Students who have taken your courses in Electricity and Magnetism, Quantum Mechanics, or Physics of Music praise you for your hard work, your knowledge, your careful organization, and your lucid, crisp style. In the words of one of your former students, you are 'just plain brilliant.' Faculty whom you have tutored in Freshman Studies lectures on Einstein or computer projects at Lawrence echo those same sentiments. You give generously of your time and talents to both students and colleagues, and Lawrence is a better place for your generosity.
Your work here with the computer is also well known. You began several years ago with COSAP, and since then you have moved on to PHYSLAN and MACSYMA. (You embody that old adage, 'By their acronyms ye shall know them.') You skillfully combine these computer-related activities with your teaching: you have developed a pioneering computation and graphics laboratory for sophomores as well as seniors; you were instrumental in developing a unique Music Display Package for students in music theory; and in the most recent issue on Computers in Physics, you have published two articles on 'Computational Exercises for the Upper-Division Undergraduate Physics Curriculum.'
David Cook, Lawrence's own Million Dollar Man in obtaining grants and funding, we are delighted to honor you today with the 1990 Excellent Teaching Award."