Michael Dennin has always enjoyed a good experiment.
The physics professor and vice provost for the University of California-Irvine has trialed and implemented numerous innovations on the campus, ranging from breaking down the science of superheroes to launching a first-generation engagement program across the campus.
For these efforts and many more, Dennin earned an Innovator of the Year award at the Business Journal’s annual event on Sept. 24 (see stories, pages 1, 4 and 8).
Dennin, who spends much of his time in the present thinking about how to create teaching and learning methods for the future, said he believes UCI creates a unique environment that allows innovation to flourish.
“We are pretty unique in being a top 10 public research university, and at the same time 50% of our students are the first in their family to go to college. You don’t find that combination anywhere else.”
Popular Scientist
Dennin grew up in Connecticut and earned his bachelor’s degree in physics from Princeton University.
His graduate education took him to Southern California, where he earned a Master of Arts and Ph.D. degrees from University of California-Santa Barbara and completed his postdoctoral research at University of California-Los Angeles.
Shortly after, he accepted a faculty position in physics at UCI.
“My career started taking an interesting direction when a number of students invited me to do a presentation at the dorms—an event that had to be both social and academic,” Dennin recalled.
“I was asked to talk about the physics of Superman.”
The Superman presentation evolved into an elective course on the science of superheroes and fiction, where Dennin taught non-science majors about “the culture of being a scientist.”
Local newspapers started taking notice, and soon Dennin was asked to appear on Ancient Aliens, Star Wars Tech and a number of other television shows.
More recently, he accomplished a life-long dream of speaking at San Diego’s Comic-Con and currently hosts a podcast called “Gadgets, Gizmos and Gear-Based Technologies.”
Diversity Boost
When Dennin isn’t drawing connections between science and pop culture, or practicing his newest hobby, archery, he’s often thinking about how to enhance student and faculty success.
Since his appointment as the vice provost of teaching and learning in 2012, Dennin has launched a variety of initiatives that aim to leverage technology, support diversity and drive innovation for the UCI community.
With this goal in mind, Dennin established the Office of the Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning (OVPTL), which houses divisions in undergraduate education, teaching excellence and summer sessions.
“It was natural to link how we think about faculty success with support for our students,” Dennin said.
Dennin orchestrated a partnership with the American Talent Initiative, an alliance that supports low- and moderate-income students, and established the First Gen Faculty initiative on campus.
The First Gen initiative, through memorabilia and apparel as well as a media campaign, demonstrated support and recognition for first-generation students.
In its pilot year, the program was seen as such a success that is has now been implemented across the University of California system.
Active Learning
Dennin also organized the design and creation of the Anteater Learning Pavilion, a three-story building outfitted with “classrooms of the future.”
Lecture halls and classrooms in the $67 million building contain wireless projectors, wall-mounted screens and plentiful outlets that enable the use of technology.
The classrooms were also designed with collaboration in mind, outfitted with chairs and some desks that swivel to promote interaction among students.
The learning pavilion speaks to a larger mission to encourage active learning, Dennin said.
Dennin also created the Active Learning Institute, which trains faculty members on engaging and collaborative teaching methods that have been proven to boost learning outcomes.
“Research shows that active learning closes the achievement gap. Students perform better and excel when this method is employed,” he said.
The Active Learning Institute has trained some 200 faculty members, who receive priority use of ALP, and continues to maintain a waitlist for future participants.
Forward Thinker
It’s on to the next challenge for Dennin.
Most recently, he said he is focused on making UCI students a first-choice for local businesses and vice versa.
“We want the OC business community to know the caliber of the students we teach and train. We want to be a bridge between education and the business.”
