Professor Kyaw Tha Paw U, a professor of atmospheric sciences and bio-meteorologist in the Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources is the recipient of the 2020 UC Davis Teaching Prize.

Established in 1986, the UC Davis Prize for Undergraduate Teaching and Scholarly Achievement, recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated extraordinary dedication and achievement in undergraduate teaching and in research/creative activity. 

The Prize recognizes exceptional achievement and, at the same time, demonstrates and reaffirms that outstanding teaching and scholarship go hand in hand. The underlying purpose of the Prize is to promote excellence among scholars at the forefront of knowledge who are making their expertise available to undergraduate students. Recipients of the award represent the highest ideals for the faculty and, as such, should be effective spokespersons for the campus and its educational mission. The $50,000 prize is among the largest of its kind in the country and is funded through philanthropic gifts managed by the UC Davis Foundation. The winner is selected based on the nominations of other professors, research peers, representatives from the UC Davis Foundation Board of Trustees, and students.