GSA Announces 2024 Award Winners Honoring Excellence in Geoscience
Boulder, Colo., USA: The Geological Society of America (GSA) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 GSA Awards, recognizing outstanding contributions to the geoscience community. Each awardee has demonstrated exceptional dedication, innovation, and impact in their respective fields.
GSA President’s Medal
Kathy Jefferson Bancroftis, a Paiute-Shoshone community leader and environmental protector, is honored for her advocacy and education on water misuse and environmental degradation in the Owens Valley, California. Trained as a biologist and chemist, Kathy has worked to bring about meaningful environmental mitigation and raise awareness of the challenges facing her community.
Penrose Medal
Andrew H. Knoll
Fisher Professor of Natural History at Harvard University
Nominator: Shuhai Xiao
Andrew H. Knoll is honored for his groundbreaking discoveries in biological evolution and his transformative research on the interactions between life and the environment. His work has defined the field of geobiology and advanced the study of Mars habitability.
Arthur L. Day Medal
Janice L. Bishop
Senior Research Scientist at the SETI Institute; contractor at the NASA Ames Research Center
Nominator: Joseph Michalski
Janice L. Bishop is recognized for her influential discoveries on Mars, her innovative lab studies of minerals, and her advances in spectroscopy and mineral chemistry, which have greatly enhanced our understanding of the Martian surface.
Young Scientist Award (Donath Medal)
C. Brenhin Keller
Dartmouth College
Nominator: Xiahong Feng
C. Brenhin Keller is celebrated for his contributions to the understanding of continental lithosphere evolution. His innovative research has challenged traditional views of Earth history and provided new insights into early Earth's crust, deep-ocean redox from the Archean to the Miocene, and the Great Unconformity.
Randolph W. “Bill” and Cecile T. Bromery Award
Aditya Kar
Fort Valley State University
Nominator: Susan Eriksson
Aditya Kar is recognized for his exceptional mentoring of minority students, particularly African Americans, in the geosciences. He has successfully recruited and mentored students, provided opportunities for research and study of geoscience, established a geology minor at an HBCU, and integrated environmental and social justice into the curriculum.
Doris M. Curtis Outstanding Woman in Science Award
Oana-Alexandra Dumitru
University of Florida
Nominator: Bogdan P. Onac
Oana-Alexandra Dumitru is honored for her notable work in advancing sea-level reconstructions, enhancing predictions for future ice sheet melting and climate change assessments. Her commitment to diversity and inclusion is demonstrated through her support for students from diverse backgrounds, including grant proposals targeting underrepresented students in geochronology.
Gabriela Aylin Farfan
Smithsonian Institute
Nominator: Colleen Hansel
Gabriela Aylin Farfan is recognized for her novel research on the mineralogy, crystallography, and chemistry of corals. Her work has provided insights into the impact of climate change on coral structures and advanced our understanding of coral biomineralization.
GSA Florence Bascom Geologic Mapping Award
Christopher D. Henry
Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology
Nominator: Joseph P. Colgan
Christopher D. Henry is honored for his 50-year career as a state survey geologist. His perceptive field observations, detailed geologic mapping, and precise geochronology have significantly contributed to tour understanding of ignimbrite calderas, volcanic stratigraphy, igneous-related mineral deposits, and the tectonic evolution of the western United States and northern Mexico.
GSA Distinguished Service Award
Carl A.P. Fricke
CEO & CFO, Transit Control Solutions, Inc.
Nominator: Anita Monk-Ryan
Carl A.P. Fricke is recognized for the professionalism, knowledge, trust and integrity he has brought to the GSA/GSAF Investment Committee as member and Chair over the past 15 years. His stewardship has ensured the successful growth of GSA's investment portfolio, and his strategic recruitment of committee members has greatly benefited the geosciences profession.
Michel T. Halbouty Distinguished Lecturer Award
Lawrence D. Meinert
Colorado School of Mines
Nominators: Jonathan Price and Murray Hitzman
Lawrence D. Meinert is recognized for his work as a faculty member, consultant to mining companies, and editor of Economic Geology. His career in mineral exploration, science policy, and management, including revitalizing the USGS Minerals Program, highlights his deep understanding of natural resource availability and policies. His lectures will be particularly relevant to the low-carbon economy, addressing the need for increased mineral resource discovery and sustainable practices.
GSA Public Service Award
Frederick David Day-Lewis
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; formerly with the USGS
Nominator: Michael Hochella
Frederick David Day-Lewis is celebrated for his scientific contributions and his success in translating research into practical tools for scientists, engineers, and decision-makers who directly serve the public good. His hydrogeophysics work has revolutionized our understanding of groundwater movement and behavior. By publishing his methods and computer codes in the public domain, he has quickly equipped many end users.
These distinguished individuals will be honored at the Presidential Address & Awards Ceremony at Connects 2024, GSA’s annual meeting, 22–25 September in Anaheim, California. Find out more.
About the Geological Society of America
The Geological Society of America (GSA) is a global professional society with a membership of more than 17,000 individuals in over 100 countries. GSA serves as a leading voice for the geosciences, promoting the understanding of Earth's dynamic processes and fostering collaboration among scientists, educators, and policymakers.
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