RICHARDSON, Texas (Feb. 3, 2003) — Dr. Fred Fifer, a professor of science education at The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), has won the Skoog Cup awarded by the Science Teachers Association of Texas at the annual Conference for the Advancement of Science Teaching.

Fifer is the first person in any University of Texas System school to receive the award, which honors an individual in higher education who has made career-long significant contributions to science education at local, state and national levels.

Fifer is the third recipient of the award, which is named after Dr. Gerald Skoog, a Texas Tech University dean and professor of education and long-standing champion of science education.

A former department chairperson for science and math education at UTD, Fifer has authored or co-authored more than 20 books on science teaching and has conducted hundreds of workshops to train teachers. He also has received the UT System Chancellor’s Award for outstanding teacher and is a fellow in the Texas Academy of Science.

About UTD
The University of Texas at Dallas, located at the convergence of Richardson, Plano and Dallas in the heart of the complex of major multinational technology corporations known as the Telecom Corridor, enrolls more than 13,000 students. The school's freshman class traditionally stands at the forefront of Texas state universities in terms of average SAT scores. The university offers a broad assortment of bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs. For additional information about UTD, please visit the university's web site at http://www.utdallas.edu.