Nicholas Hatsopoulos, a professor in the Department of Orgnaismal Biology and Anatomy, received the 2024 Llewellyn John and Harriet Manchester Quantrell Award. Each year, the University of Chicago honors its exceptional faculty who inspire and mentor both undergraduate and graduate students, and Hatsopoulos exemplified these qualities, earning his recognition for his excellence this year.
Hatsopoulos teaches "Neuroscience of Consciousness," a course inspired by his long-standing interest in philosophical questions of free will. Though consciousness is not his primary research focus, he delights in the engaging and lively discussions with his students that ensue during his lectures. Hatsopoulos fosters an interactive classroom environment, encouraging interruptions and questions to promote deep learning. He assigns weekly paper critiques and facilitates debates on consciousness-related topics, aiming to enhance students' critical thinking and understanding of neuroscience, even if the ultimate question of how consciousness arises from the brain remains unanswered.
Read the full story at UChicago announces 2024 winners of Quantrell and PhD Teaching Awards.