Director's Award to Robert L. Devaney Includes $300,000 Prize Grant

(Boston, Mass.) - Boston University Mathematics Professor Robert L. Devaney has won a National Science Foundation (NSF) Director's Award for Distinguished Teaching Scholars. The award honors educators for their outstanding contributions to research and for using their knowledge to contribute to enhancing the education of undergraduates. Prof. Devaney is one of six recipients of the award this year and the first mathematician ever to receive it. The winners come from across the nation; Devaney also is the only winner from New England.

"Not only do these faculty members help their students learn new skills and ideas," says Judith Ramaley, NSF's assistant director for education and human resources, "but they also demonstrate the integration of research and education through their practice-and inspire their students to conduct scholarship at the highest level."

The Director's Award for Distinguished Teaching Scholars is the highest honor the National Science Foundation bestows on individuals for excellence in both teaching and research. Prof. Devaney will receive the award at a ceremony at the National Academy of Science on June 19, 2002. In addition, he will receive a grant of $300,000 over the next four years to continue his work and expand its reach beyond Boston University.

Prof. Devaney's most recent research is in complex dynamics, including the study of the chaotic behavior of quadratic and exponential functions. He has developed internet tools for high school and college students and faculty to help learn about and teach dynamical systems. He also has received various teaching awards, including the Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo Award -- the Mathematical Association of America's national teaching award -- and Boston University's Teacher/Scholar Award. In addition, Prof. Devaney has given over 1,000 lectures on mathematics to audiences in all 50 states and on six continents.