By Daily Press staff
Santa Monica College astronomy professor Gary Fouts has been named the second recipient of the John F. Drescher Chair of Excellence in Earth Science.
Fouts will receives $5,000 a year for each of the next three years, cash to be used toward a research project of his choice.
He plans to use the funds to conduct research on atmospheric ozone level fluctuations, which have been shown to lead to excess UV sun rays, posing risks ranging from skin cancer to crop damage.
The award was established in the memory of John Drescher, a philanthropist and donor to the college.
Drescher, who died five years ago at the age of 89, had left in his will a $1,500,000 gift to the college Fouts has had several scientific papers published, including an award-winning paper that garnered him attention in books such as “The Alchemy of Heavens” and magazines such as Scientific American.
An astronomy professor at SMC since 1988, he founded and advises the student Astronomy Club and has organized lectures and fundraisers for his department and the club.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 3, 2005. Read the original PDF.