Knox Gets $1M For Earth Science Chair

Microsoft money is funding a fast-growing major at Knox College. The Galesburg, Ill.-based college, whose initial charter was approved by an Illinois legislator by the name of Abraham Lincoln, announced late last week that it had received $1 million from an alumni who had retired from Microsoft to endow a faculty chair in earth sciences.

The money comes from Douglas L. and Maria Bayer of Bellevue, Wash. Douglas Bayer was graduated from Knox in 1966 a bachelor's degree in physics. He had worked at Microsoft since 1994, and held the title of software security architect before his retirement.

At Knox, earth sciences are part of its interdisciplinary environmental studies program. Although the major was created just seven years ago it is currently one of the top 10 majors at the college. The chairman of the environmental studies department said the college is now reviewing applications for the position and hopes to fill it later this year.