Professor Richard D. Adams, director of the USC NanoCenter, has been awarded the 2003 Governor's Award for Excellence in Science.

The award, which recognizes an individual or team in South Carolina for making significant contributions to science, is the latest in a string of honors for Adams, who came to USC in 1984 from Yale University.

"Solid, scientific research that yields results is integral to the economic well-being of our state and to the quality of life for all our citizens," Gov. Mark Sanford said in presenting the award to Adams Tuesday.

As director of USC's NanoCenter, Adams oversees efforts to study and develop nanotechnology, a field that investigates materials at the atomic level. It has been identified as one of the hottest areas of science because of its potential to revolutionize medicine and electronics.

The Governor's Award for Excellence in Science was established in 1985 by the Drug Science Foundation and, since 1989, has been sponsored by the Governor's Office, the S.C. Commission on Higher Education and the S.C. Academy of Science, the Dewees Development Corp., Harbor Watch of Charleston and Roche Carolina.