The Feynman Prize is made possible by the generosity of an endowment from Ione and Robert E. Paradise, along with additional contributions from Mr. and Mrs. William H. Hurt. It is named in honor of the late Caltech Nobel Laureate and popular science author, who was lauded for his innovative classroom lectures on physics. The prize is given each year to a Caltech professor who demonstrates exceptional ability, creativity, and innovation in both laboratory and classroom instruction. Stevenson also incorporated the use of small group projects, each led by an individual professor, along with field trips to give students the opportunity of first-hand observation. Stevenson notes that teaching is also helpful to him.
Teaching helps the teacher as well as the student.
Stevenson's own research efforts concerning the origin, evolution, and structure of planets, including Earth, are noteworthy as well. In 1998, the American Geophysical Union awarded him its Harry H. Hess Medal for outstanding achievements in the research of the constitution and evolution of Earth and its sister planets. In addition, in 1993 Stevenson was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society, the United Kingdom's national academy of science, in recognition of his scientific excellence and work of distinction.