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    NSF Honors Geophysicist for Teaching Initiatives

    By GAIL GALLESSICH BROWN

    Geophysicist Tanya Atwater's insights into the Earth has led the NSF to name her a Distinguished Teaching Scholar
    Tanya Atwater, professor of geological sciences, is one of six academics nationwide to receive one of this year's National Science Foundation (NSF) Director's Awards for Distinguished Teaching Scholars. It is the highest honor bestowed by the National Science Foundation for excellence in both teaching and research. Atwater, a pioneer in plate tectonics discoveries and theory, will be honored, in part, for her creation of computer-animated plate tectonic histories that are widely used by teachers.
    The NSF scholars will be recognized at a ceremony on June 19 at the National Academy of Science in Washington, D.C. Each will receive $300,000 over four years to continue and expand their work beyond their home institutions.
    Atwater serves as faculty advisor for half of the majors in geosciences at UCSB and has involved students in designing lab and field experiences for the undergraduate oceanography course. She has also created a science-teaching track within the geosciences major to facilitate the credentialing of teachers and has organized teacher-student partnerships for sixth-grade teachers and undergraduate geoscience majors.
    Her educational work has focused on the creation of multimedia products and presentations depicting plate tectonic histories. Her animated teaching film, "Continental Drift and Plate Tectonics," received the highest recommendation from the Journal of Geological Education, and has been used in elementary through university classrooms.
    In response to inquiries from colleagues, Atwater is establishing an Educational Multimedia Visualization Center where faculty can bring their ideas and gain the technical expertise needed to produce computer animations for teaching. E-mail can reach her at atwater@geology.ucsb.edu.