Leon Knopoff, an award-winning faculty member for 50 years, and his wife, Joanne, a volunteer involved with UCLA alumni and community programs for more than 40 years, have pledged a $500,000 endowment in the College of Letters & Science.

The Leon and Joanne V.C. Knopoff Career Development Chair in Physics and Geophysics, the first chair in the basic sciences to be endowed by a faculty member during Campaign UCLA, will support the research of a promising young scientist in solid Earth geophysics, Knopoff's field.

"Joanne and I have benefited so much from being at UCLA that we would like to return the favor," said Knopoff, research professor of physics and geophysics. "Our lives revolve around UCLA."

Joanne Knopoff, a graduate of UCLA and a former counselor for undergraduate students in the College of Letters & Science, served as president of Gold Shield, Alumnae of UCLA, an honorary service and philanthropic organization; president of UCLA Design for Sharing, which brings UCLA Performing Arts to large numbers of public school students who otherwise would be unable to attend performances; and president of the UCLA Faculty Women's Club. She has chaired committees of the UCLA Alumni Association Scholarship Program, and is a recipient of the Alumni Association's annual Award for Excellence in University Service in recognition of extensive leadership and service to UCLA. She currently serves on the boards of Gold Shield, Design for Sharing and The Affiliates of UCLA.

Leon Knopoff, 75, came to UCLA as a postdoctoral scholar in 1950, and was promoted to associate professor in the Institute of Geophysics in 1957. Just three years later, he was appointed to full professor in the physics department. He served as director of the Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics from 1972 to 1986.

Knopoff is a strong advocate of interdisciplinary research and teaching. With the endowment, the couple is encouraging physicists and geophysicists to probe large-scale questions that are being raised in both fields. The endowed chair will support the research of a junior scientist for a few years, and then will be awarded to another junior scientist in the field.

Said College Provost Brian Copenhaver, "The Knopoffs' endowment will help in recruiting the most outstanding young scientists to UCLA in the growing area of the physics of the solid Earth, help UCLA to retain exceptional young scientists in this field during very creative periods of their careers and help assure the best possible education for UCLA students in this important field."