UNT's Science Education Research Lab received the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's 2016 Texas Environmental Excellence Award for its decade-long environmental education efforts in Dallas-area schools.

Educators from the lab, including graduate students who are certified teachers, have developed and taught water conservation lessons in a variety of Dallas classrooms since 2006 with a grant from the city of Dallas. Directed by Ruthanne "Rudi" Thompson, associate professor of biology, the lab also offers online resources, conducts a museum on wheels in middle schools and mentors high school students developing conservation projects.