At heart a teacher, Christopher Beck, '94 Physics, is getting a premiere opportunity to teach. His students are members of the United States Congress. Beck, a native of Billings, was awarded a Congressional Science and Engineering Fellowship for 2003-2004. He is one of only 35 people in the country to receive the award. Beck uses an electron diffraction demonstration device. (Photo courtesy Tufts University) The program, which is part of the American Association for the Advancement of Science's Congressional Fellowship Program, matches some of the best engineers and scientists in the country with congressional committees or individual members of Congress. Beck is working on a legislative staff in Washington D.C. where his training as a scientist offers a different point of view on issues. "The analysis I can give is unique, different from that of a lawyer," he said. " I love teaching and I love learning, that's why the fellowship is a good fit for me. I get to teach the legislators something about science, while I get a one-year immersion course in U.S. government." Beck says his physics teachers at MSU sparked his interest in teaching. "I can't say enough about the teaching faculty in the physics department," he said. "Jack Drumheller, John Carlsten, Larry Kirkpatrick, Lisa (Darrieux) Peterson, '84 Physics, George Tuthill--they were very enthusiastic and started my love for physics. The staff really works hard and do a great service to their students. Students know they're valued. I haven't seen any teaching staff that comes close to them. It's something they love." While working with legislators, Beck hopes to be an advocate for an increased focus on science and math education in elementary and high schools. His concern is that with an increasingly technological society, high schools still do not place the kind of emphasis on math and science as they do on English. "Science and math education should be at the core of a high school education with four years of study a requirement," he said. "There's been a bias against the sciences, they're presented as too difficult," Beck said. "Students get frustrated, so by the time they get to college they freeze when they see numbers." Beck hopes his stint in Washington will help him decide whether he should return to academia--he's currently doing postdoctoral work in physics at Northeastern University--or pursue a political career. "I love teaching and it would be hard not to do that, but the gravity of the national as well as the world situation can't be overstated, and those jobs need to be done right," he said. "My future will come down to where I can do the most good." Beck received a master's and doctorate in physics from Tufts University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.