Geological Society of America Award Winners for 2020

Boulder, CO, USA: Each year the Geological Society of America (GSA) recognizes outstanding scientific achievement and distinguished service to the geoscience profession. In a typical year, honorees are recognized at the Presidential Address and Awards Ceremony as part of the Society’s Annual Meeting. During the COVID pandemic, however, the meeting has transitioned to an online event for scientific exchange, and plans are currently under development for the most appropriate way to spotlight these outstanding individuals.

Highest honors go to Penrose Medalist James G. Moore, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Menlo Park, California; Arthur L. Day Medalist Ariel D. Anbar, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona; and Donath Medalist (Young Scientist Award) Christopher Spencer, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

Selected by immediate Past President Donald I. Siegel (Syracuse University) for The President’s Medal of The Geological Society of America is Solomon Hsiang, professor at the University of California, Berkeley. He runs the renowned global policy laboratory there. “Dr. Hsiang blends earth science with economics and social science in ways that few people do,” said Siegel in explaining his choice. “Solomon is involved with artificial intelligence, and he earned his reputation by writing a series of papers equating past climate disruption with global warfare (arguing that most wars in the past relate to climate).” His important work is stimulating new ways of thinking about geoscience in the context of social issues.

GOLD MEDALISTS

Penrose Medalist James G. Moore, scientist emeritus, USGS, was nominated by Keith Howard, also of the USGS. Howard cited Moore’s visionary, highly innovative discoveries as having opened major new geologic research fields and advances in determining lithosphere strength, how volcanoes work, and how batholiths evolve. “The far-reaching impacts of his achievements place him among the giants of geology,” said Howard.

Ariel D. Anbar is named the Arthur L. Day Medalist in recognition of his outstanding research contributions, mentoring for generations of students, and vigorous promotion of science in the public sphere. He is President’s Professor at Arizona State University. Nominator Thomas Algeo (University of Cincinnati) describes Anbar as a leader in the development of high-mass isotopic systems (Fe, Mo, U) that have yielded new insights into biogeochemical cycles. “Ariel Anbar is a world-class geoscientist and educator,” said Algeo.

Christopher J. Spencer earned the Young Scientist Award (Donath Medal) and a cash prize of US$10,000 for outstanding achievement as an early career professional. Spencer is an assistant professor at Queens University. He was nominated by Brendan Murphy (St. Francis Xavier University) for outstanding contributions to the understanding of fundamental tectonic processes: from global to local in scale and from Archean to Cenozoic in age. “Spencer’s research has incorporated a wide range of cognate disciplines including petrochronology, geophysics, geodynamics, stable and radiogenic isotope geochemistry, and stratigraphy,” said Murphy.

OTHER TOP GSA AWARDS

Doris M. Curtis Outstanding Woman in Science Award

This honor is awarded to a woman within the first three years following her degree, who has impacted the field of the geosciences in a major way based on her Ph.D. research. Marissa M. Tremblay, assistant professor at Purdue University, is the 2020 honoree. She was nominated by David Shuster (University of California, Berkeley) for thesis work developing a fundamentally new form of geochemical paleothermometry, which she calls Cosmogenic Noble Gas Paleothermometry. Her research “has opened entirely new avenues of inquiry in Earth and planetary science,” said Shuster.

GSA Public Service Award

Timothy Bechtel, Franklin & Marshall College, is recognized for his exceptional service to the public on behalf of geoscience. Bechtel was nominated by Carol B. de Wet for facilitating and directing college student involvement in public school STEM education, as well as organizing free, family-oriented, hands-on science activity events. Bechtel speaks about current earth science events, or his own research, to civic organizations, and uses his professional geophysics expertise for humanitarian demining applications.

Randolph W. “Bill” and Cecile T. Bromery Award for the Minorities

Martha Gilmore, Wesleyan University, was recognized with the Bromery Award as a “beacon of light for those minorities & women contemplating a career in geosciences, illuminating an inspirational destination of success based on her research & accomplishments,” said nominator James Head of Brown University. “She leads the way for African-Americans and women in geoscience by example: passionate interest in fundamental and cutting-edge science, dedication to teaching and service to the profession and community, and tireless mentoring and personal advocacy for young scientists.”

Florence Bascom Award for Geologic Mapping

Robert D. Hatcher Jr., University of Tennessee, was nominated by Jonathan Evenick (BP America, Inc.) to acknowledge many decades of tireless work on the construction of over 100 geological maps, field guides, and large-scale map compilations centered on the Appalachian Mountains, and also for advising countless students on how to map and make field based interpretations. “Hatcher has provided a strong field-based education for his students, and fully deserves this award and recognition,” said Evenick.

Distinguished Service Awards

Two recipients received recognition for their extensive and outstanding service to GSA in multiple capacities:

Marjorie A. Chan, Associate Dean for External Relations, University of Utah (nominated by Robbie Gries, Priority Oil & Gas, LLC).

Rónadh Cox, Edward Brust Professor of Geology and Mineralogy, Williams College (nominated by Jeanette Hammann, Geological Society of America).

Honorary Fellows

Carlota Escutia, Spanish Research Council (CSIC)–Instituto Andaluz. Nominated by Suzanne OConnell (Wesleyan University) for impressive international leadership in Antarctic paleoclimate research and significant involvement in scientific ocean drilling expeditions.

Laura Giambiagi, IANIGLA/CONICET. Nominated by Gregory Hoke (Syracuse University) for insights gained from more than 20 years as a structural geologist working in some of the most inaccessible parts of the high Andes. Her work continues to reshape our view of the Cenozoic Andes straddling the Pampean flat-slab transition.

Photos of the GSA award recipients are online. Citations and responses from the 2020 GSA Medal and Award winners will be posted on this site after the GSA 2020 recognition event.

GSA’s Division awardees and newly elected Fellows are also online.

Read more about GSA’s medals and awards .

Incoming GSA President J. Douglas Walker, Union Pacific Resources Distinguished Professor at the University of Kansas–Lawrence, will give his 2020 Presidential Address online on Monday, 26 October, 11 a.m.–noon EST, speaking on a particularly relevant subject to the COVID-19 reality: “Doing geology in an online world.” This event will be open to all meeting attendees, and members of the media are invited to attend. The link will be posted here when available.

The Geological Society of America (https://www.geosociety.org) is a scientific society with members from academia, government, and industry in more than 100 countries. Through its meetings, publications, and programs, GSA enhances the professional growth of its members and promotes the geosciences in the service of humankind. GSA encourages cooperative research among earth, life, planetary, and social scientists, fosters public dialogue on geoscience issues, and supports all levels of earth science education.

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