Recognized for his ability to present ideas with confidence and authority, along with energy and enthusiasm, Sociology professor Anton Allahar has reached the Top 10 for TVO’s Big Ideas Best Lecturer Competition.
Over the course of the next few months, students and alumni will have the opportunity to support and vote for their school and their favourite professor as each delivers a complete lecture on TVO’s Big Ideas.
Anton Allahar
Allahar’s lecture entitled ‘Why is the whole world not developed?’ is scheduled to air Mar. 1 (Channel 2 in London) at 4 p.m. Following the lecture, and until April 5, the viewers will grade their favourite professors either online, through texting or by phone.
The winning professor will receive $10,000 TD Insurance Meloche Monnex scholarship for their university.
“It is indeed an honour to be selected among the top 10 of the TVO Best Lecturer award competition,” says Allahar, this first Western professor to make it this far in the fourth installment of the annual competition.
“Clearly the student(s) who nominated me had many committed instructors and colleagues from whom to choose, and that initially they chose me and six other colleagues from Western is most flattering to all of us.”
He adds to be the only ‘surviving’ Western representative is somewhat daunting but he hopes this speaks positively about the importance and place of effective teaching at what is too casually billed as a ‘research intensive university’.
“Along with research, universities are equally about teaching and the ways in which effective teachers are able to motivate and reward engaged students,” he says.
Visit TVO for a complete list of the Top 10 finalists, or to view Allahar’s lecture submission.