Three professors received grants to abandon their posts at ASU - for research.
Professors Gitta Honegger, Kenneth L. Mossman and Monica H. Green received 2003 John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship awards last week.
The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial fellowships stem from the reservoir of wealth accrued by the Guggenheim family of American industrialists. Former Colorado Senator Simon Guggenheim set up the foundation in 1925 in honor of his son.
The grants are awarded for projects to be researched abroad. More than $6 million is divided between 184 artists, scholars and scientists, according to the Guggenheim Foundation.
Honegger is the only theater professor to receive the award this year, and will leave next spring for Berlin to complete her research.
"I was very moved to get it," Honegger said. "It was very rewarding because it's the best award in our field."
Honegger said she would use her grant to study the life of Helene Weigel, the actress and the wife of playwright Berlolt Brecht.
"This will have a direct relation to my classes here because I teach theater of East and West Germany," Honegger said.
Mossman, a professor of health physics and director of the office of radiation safety, said he will use his grant to create a system for assessing small technological risks.
"This proposed research has implications for a broad range of activities, including such diverse activities as biomedical research, use of cellular telephones and genetically modified foods," Mossman said.
Green, a history professor, will use her grant to research medicine and culture in 12th century Salerno, Italy, where one of the first medical institutes was established.
ASU spokesman Jim Hathaway said the administration is pleased with the awards. In 2002, two Guggenheim awards were given to ASU professors, and in 2001, three ASU professors got awards.
"These awards are given to professors at the peak of their careers," Hathaway said. "This means we really are a true research University."
Want to be heard? Post your opinion in the forum below.
Reach the reporter at meagan.pollnow@asu.edu.
