Photo by Pathik Shah

Perhaps the best way to understand why geology professor William Dupre is a winner of a 2007-2008 University of Houston Teaching Excellence Award for teaching in the core curriulum is to analyze the students he teaches.

More than 95 percent of the students taking his Geology 1330 class, a core course in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, are non-science majors. Most will admit to being “science-phobic,” taking any science course only because of university core requirements, Dupre said.

“These students can be a challenge to teach,” he said. “I work hard to show them how science is important in every phase of their lives.”

This award is given to faculty in recognition of outstanding teaching in the Core Curriculum. Recipients are honored with a trophy and a $5,000 prize.


Richard Bonnin
Staff writer

View full list of 2008 award recipients                          Past award recipients