Weapons treaties, arms control and disarmament, nuclear war – in the past, the fate of the entire planet has rested in the hands of Marshall Beier's political science class.

The students, enrolled in Weapons and War in a Digital Age, participate in a novel arms control simulation which recreates the tense atmosphere surrounding discussions on military disarmament, minus the possibility of discussions breaking down into actual war. Students are divided into national groups and assigned specific portfolios and must enter discussions with classmates from other “countries,” keeping in mind the priorities of the group they represent.

The simulation, developed by Beier, represents just one of the ways the associate professor has linked undergraduate teaching with his own research. He was recently recognized for his efforts with the awarding of the inaugural Canadian Political Science Association's Teaching Excellence Prize, which celebrates the contributions of political scientists to excellence in student learning.

“Undergraduate teaching is not just a passive transfer of knowledge,” said Beier. “We normally think of research as being part of the grad student experience, but it can also be an important part of undergraduate learning.”

This is not the first time Beier's teaching talents have earned him recognition. In 2003 he was awarded a McMaster Students Union Teaching Award. In 2007 he was given an Ontario Leadership in Faculty Teaching Award and in 2009 he received a Petro-Canada Young Innovator Award.

“Marshall is an internationally renowned researcher who is also a highly innovative teacher,” said Robert O'Brien, chair of the Department of Political Science. “In addition to being a popular lecturer, he has worked tirelessly to facilitate undergraduate engagement with, and participation in, his groundbreaking research on arms control. He creates wonderful opportunities for our undergraduate students.”

Beier also teaches a fourth year seminar, Experiential Learning in Research (Arms Control Innovation), which is designed around a group of student researchers in such a way as to facilitate their making original contributions to current thinking about arms control and disarmament. Students then have the opportunity to publish their work in a peer-reviewed working paper series, an opportunity not always available to undergraduate students.

“Research informs the content of my teaching, and issues that come up while teaching help me in my research,” said Beier.

“It's great to be recognized by both my colleagues and students with this award. I'm very honoured.”

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