All current GS members are eligible to vote in the Board of Directors election. Voting instructions will be sent by email on Dec. 4. Please contact gsoffice@geochemsoc.org if you have any questions about how to vote or did not receive the ballot. The deadline to vote is December 22, 2023.
Information from each candidate is presented below. Click on a candidate's name to visit his or her web page.
Vice President
The Vice President nominates members and chairs of the various committees of the society and serves on the Board as a voting member. The Vice President is elected for a two-year term, followed by a two-year term as President, then a two-year term as Past President. He or she also serves on the Goldschmidt Forum, the governing body of the Goldschmidt Conference.
(Select ONE)
SHUHEI ONO
Shuhei Ono is a professor in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA. His research focuses on the early history of atmospheric oxygen, the origin of methane, and the deep biosphere using novel isotope and isotopologue measurements. He was a co-chair for Boston Goldschmidt in 2018 and a Gast lecturer in Paris in 2017. He served on the organizing committee for Yokohama in 2016, the international program committee for Vancouver in 2008, the nomination committee for the Clark Award, and the editor for Geochemical News. He has been an associate editor for Geochimica et Cosmochica Acta and Frontiers in Microbiology.
Short statement from the candidate
The Geochemical Society (GS) stands as a pivotal catalyst for global collaboration among all disciplines of geochemistry. GS members engage in the study of geochemistry spanning from the mantle to the stratosphere, the Hadean to the Anthropocene, and the atomic level to the entire Earth. I would encourage the GS to go beyond the dichotomy of high- versus low-temperature geochemistry and the distinctions between applied and fundamental science. In addition to the evolving compositions of subdisciplines, GS has experienced substantial growth in membership beyond North America, presenting us with exciting new opportunities. My experience serving the International Organization Committee for Yokohama 2016 underscored the vital role of GS in bridging members from different backgrounds to foster global collaborations. I aim for the Goldschmidt conference to ensure representation from all subdisciplines, all career levels, and all demographic segments, promoting greater inclusivity by balancing online and in-person communications. I would be open to testing progressive ideas to catalyze innovative research beyond conventional boundaries and foster the next generation of geochemists while keeping the traditional values of the premier conference for Geochemistry.
DOMINIQUE WEIS
Dominique Weis is a Canadian Research Chair Tier I and Killam Professor at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. Her research aims to (1) determine the origin, source and distribution of heterogeneities in deep mantle plumes (e.g., Hawai'i, Kerguelen), and their variations through time; (2) apply select key geochemical tools to resolve indigenous-led questions; and (3) improve our understanding of the Earth's environment, using biomonitors such as honey or salmon to trace metal distribution and pathways in various reservoirs. Dominique is the Director of the Pacific Centre for Isotopic and Geochemical Research, a major analytical facility serving the needs of academics, government, and industry in Canada and worldwide. She gave the Daly lecture in 2010 at the Fall AGU Meeting and has served as an editor of the Journal of Petrology for 15 years and of Anthropocene for 2 years. She is a co-chief editor of the Treatise of Geochemistry (3rd Edition). Dominique served the GS in organizing the 2008 Goldschmidt Conference in Vancouver, as chair of the International Program Committee for the 2014 Goldschmidt Conference in Sacramento, and as a Board member and Finance Committee member. She served as AGU's President of the Volcanology, Geochemistry, and Petrology section and as a member of the Council Leadership Team. In addition to her wide research interests using various geochemical approaches, Dominique actively trains young scientists in technology transfer and the application of novel isotopic techniques for solving Earth and environmental problems.
Short statement from the candidate
Geochemistry is a fundamental discipline relevant to most Earth, environmental, and planetary sciences topics with practical applications to society. The Geochemical Society's members examine fundamental questions across Earth history using different tools, from fundamental field techniques to sophisticated analytical instrumentation. Geochemical studies produce current and time-integrated data that inform many current issues of our society, such as climate change, pollution, natural resources, supply of critical metals, and recycling. I am willing to run for GS Vice President to support such a vibrant bottom-up scientific society. The GS membership is truly global and I will encourage diversity, promote science dissemination, and support the community to provide objective information and improve our society.
Non-Officer Director
Non-Officer Directors participate in Board discussions and serve on the Board as voting members. This is a three-year term of service. In order for the Board membership to reflect the regional diversity of the Society membership, this year requires election of three directors from Africa, Asia, Australia, or Central/South America (Region 3).
Director - Region 3
(Select ONE)
DEREJE AYALEW
Dereje Ayalew is a Professor at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. He holds a Ph.D. from Université de Lorraine, France. He served the university as Head of School and President of the university. His research focuses on petrology and geochemistry of magmatic rocks with their mineral deposits. In addition; he addresses the issues related to forecasting volcanism. Dereje facilitated the GS-EAG Outreach Program in Ethiopia. He received the Capacity-building Grants from GS. He has received a number of awards from France, Germany, UK and Japan in recognition of his outstanding contributions.
MARIAN SELORM SAPAH
Marian Selorm Sapah is Lecturer and Scientific Researcher at the Department of Earth Science, University of Ghana. She holds a a PhD in Earth Chemistry from the Australia National University (2016), as well as postgraduate certificates in science communication and chemical safety. Her research interests are focused on the areas of geochemistry, environmental geochemistry, exploration geochemistry, cosmochemistry and planetary and space science, and geoscience education. Dr. Sapah is a founding member of the Africa Initiative for Planetary and Space Science (AFIPS), and a member/mentor of the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC). She currently serves on the GS Capacity-Building Grant Committee, and on the Editorial committee of the Ghana Institution of Geoscientists. She is an advocate for the environment and sustainability as well as for women and girls in STEM.
Director - Region 3
(Select ONE)
SUNG HI CHOI
Sung Hi Choi is a Professor in the Department of Geological Sciences at Chungnam National University, South Korea. Her research interests are focused on igneous petrogenesis, evolution of the Earth lithospheric mantle, ophiolite genesis and evolution of the oceanic lithosphere, mantle dynamics, and geological record of meteorite impacts based on integrated use of mineralogy, petrography and geochemistry including Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf-Os-Mg-Zn-Li-O isotopes. She has served as a member of the F.W. Clarke Award Committee of the Geochemical Society between 2008 and 2011.
YI-GANG XU
Yi-Gang Xu is a Professor of Geochemistry in the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and director of State Key Laboratory of Isotope Geochemistry. He is an expert on igneous petrology and geochemistry, with current research interests focusing on understanding the origin and evolution of continental and oceanic mantle, large igneous provinces and their environmental effect, and deep volatile circulation and earth's habitability. Yi-Gang has published >260 peer-reviewed papers in international journals. He has served as the theme chair of the Goldschmidt 2016, and a member of the GS Nominations Committee between 2015 and 2017. He is a Fellow of the GSA since 2018, a Fellow of AGU since 2021 and a Fellow of GS/EAG since 2022.
Director - Region 3
(Select ONE)
JACINTA ENZWEILER
Jacinta Enzweiler is a full professor at the Institute of Geosciences, University of Campinas-Unicamp, Brazil, and is a National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) Research Fellow. Jacinta's academic journey began with her bachelor's degree in Chemistry, specializing in Geochemistry, earned from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Her interest in science led her to pursue a master's degree in Chemistry and a Doctorate in Science, both obtained from Unicamp. Her progress in Analytical Geochemistry as a research topic occurred during her post-doctoral period at the Department of Earth Sciences, Open University, England. She dedicated most of her professional activities to Analytical Geochemistry, specifically to developing measurement methods for application in the chemical and isotopic characterization of geological materials, and more recently to Environmental Geochemistry by studying, for instance, the distribution of rare earth elements in surface and groundwater. Locally, she coordinates the Management Committee of the Isotope Geology and is a member of the Geochemistry Laboratory. Jacinta has been co-editor-in-chief of the journal "Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research" since 2016 and is the President of the International Association of Geoanalysts (IAG) 2018-2024.
ANTHONY (TONY) KEMP
Anthony (Tony) Kemp is an Associate Professor in geology and geochemistry based at the University of Western Australia. His research is focused on understanding the generation of the continental crust and the evolution of Earth's crust-mantle system. A recent emphasis has been on developing geochemical approaches for tracking the sources of metals and the processes by which these are transported and enriched in the lithosphere - particularly the 'Critical Minerals' and related commodities. Tony is a Fellow of the Geological Society of America since 2018, and an Associate Editor for Precambrian Research since 2019. He has enjoyed serving as a Theme Chair for the Goldschmidt conference on 5 occasions.
Director - Early Career Researcher
Candidates for this position are early career researchers, defined as higher degree (beyond Bachelors level) students in good standing who 1) have completed at least 2 years of a PhD program (e.g., equivalent to having passed qualifying or mid-term exams where applicable) OR 2) postdoctoral researchers or faculty within 4 years of being awarded their PhD, OR 3) employees in a geochemistry-related industry within 4 years of last degree completion at the year of nomination. This position has a two-year term of service. Candidates submitted statements of interest as part of the nomination process.
(Select ONE)
Statement of Interest
I am writing to express my interest in serving as an early career representative on the Geochemical Society board. As a postdoctoral researcher with a diverse background in geochemistry, spanning critical metals research to planetary geochemistry, I have gained a broad range of experiences. Currently based at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, I collaborate with the Mineral Deposits Research Unit (MDRU), a joint academic-industry research center. I am passionate about advancing geochemical research and its applications in addressing critical societal and environmental challenges, particularly in the realms of mineral resources and the transition to sustainable energy sources. In addition to my dedication to advancing the science of geochemistry, I am also committed to addressing broader issues within our community. I am acutely aware of the need for greater inclusivity and diversity in our field, and I'm eager to work with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee to promote diversity and representation in geochemistry, addressing disparities that exist, especially in the early career stage.
If selected to serve on the GS board, I will bring my international experience, enthusiasm, and commitment to the position. Having worked at four universities in three countries, I have served on various committees, including SEG student chapters, graduate student committees, the EGU-GMPV early-career committee, and a faculty hiring council. I aim to leverage this experience, including my positive track record of fundraising and event organization, to actively contribute to the goals and initiatives of the GS. I am determined to be an approachable and responsive representative for early career geochemists, providing a platform for their concerns and ideas. I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to collaborate with fellow board members to guide the society's direction and continue its mission to foster collaborations, share knowledge, and advance innovation in the field of geochemistry. I appreciate your consideration of my nomination and the potential opportunity to serve on the Geochemical Society board.
PIYAL HALDER
Statement of Interest
I am so excited to join the board of directors of the Geochemical Society as an Early Career Researcher. I, Mr. Piyal Halder, am a PhD student at Lucknow-based Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) and working on the fluid-rock interaction in the shallow crustal basement rocks of the Koyna-Warna Seismogenic region, Maharashtra, India, and its connection with the recurring seismicity as experienced in this region for the last five decades since the impoundment of the Koyna Dam in 1962. The findings of this research will serve as the bridge between geochemistry, mineralogy and seismology and will not only be significant in the Indian context but also in light of other instances of seismicity around the globe such as SAFOD (USA), Nojima fault (Japan), Chelungpu fault (Taiwan) etc., where a potential role of fluid-rock interaction on seismicity has been identified. As a doctoral student in geochemistry and tectonics, I am always interested in being involved with the organisations and societies that encourage and promote scientific activities in the relevant domains of the Earth Sciences. The Geochemical Society is such a nonprofit scientific organisation founded to encourage the application of chemistry to solve problems in geology and cosmology. Besides, being a member of the Geochemical Society, U.S., I am also involved with the European Association of Geochemistry, International Association of Geochemistry, and International Association for Structural Geology & Tectonics (IUGS Commission on Tectonics and Structural Geology, formerly known as TecTask). I am also an active member of the Early Career Researcher Committee of the Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Petrology, and Volcanology Division (GMPV) in the European Geosciences Union (EGU) and serving there as a Blog Editor. Recently, as a member of the TERPRO Commission of INQUA (International Association for Quaternary Research), I also took part in the ECR election of the commission. I have also become a member of the International Association for Promoting Geoethics (IAPG, affiliated with IUGS) and the Breakthrough Science Society which promote scientific awareness among the people. I am also associated with the activities of the Association of Quaternary Researchers (AOQR), India and express my views on several recent issues on quaternary geochemistry and tectonics in the association's newsletter Quaternary Chronicles.
Vision & Mission: As an ECR member of the Geochemical Society, I would like to utilize the experience gained during my involvement with different societies or bodies. I believe that I can work for the advancement of this society and can be able to raise my voice on several issues faced by the ECRs in the scientific community. My utmost priority will be to bridge the gap between the ECRs and other committees of the Geochemical Society. As I have been well versed in volunteering in workshops or conferences since my graduation period, such managerial skills will be extremely helpful during the Goldschmidt conference. If get elected, I shall try to start a blog with the permission of the other members, dedicated particularly to the young scientific community. The GS blogs will not only help in the promotion of novel findings in the field of Geochemistry but also represent several socio-economic issues faced by the young scientific community during their PhD period. I feel, such a platform is highly needed for the organisations like Geochemical Society. However, the blog will not replace the existing social media platforms of the Society, rather the interesting blogs will be posted on the social sites to attract more audience. In fact, the social media platforms will be used to call a greater number of people irrespective of gender, religion, ethnicity, or nationality, to share their views or ideas on the blogs. So, as an ECR member, I am also flexible in handling social media platforms. Thus, as an ECR member, I shall try to make society more social and open to the larger community.
Links of a few promotional and scientific blogs posted by me in the EGU GMPV division: 1 2 3
Statement of Interest
My name is Manuel (Manny) R. Vejar, and I am a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Notre Dame (Indiana, USA). Environmental geochemistry is the field that sparked the engine that drives my professional pursuits when I was just a community college student. Briefly, I received my Bachelor of Science in Geology from Cal Poly Pomona (CA, USA), after transferring from Santiago Canyon College (CA, USA). While an undergraduate, I participated in 2 Research Experience(s) for Undergraduates (REUs). I conducted research in environmental geochemistry of iron oxides and their uptake of metal contaminants at Chapman University in 2016, and later in sedimentary geology of California at Stanford University in 2018. I have also conducted research using X-ray absorption spectroscopy; first studying arsenic speciation in mine tailings as an undergrad (2017-2019), and in graduate school studying plutonium redox and speciation behavior at the mineral-water interface of aluminum-doped iron oxides (2019-present).
During graduate school, I had the privilege of collaborating with international and diverse teams of world-class scientists at home (Notre Dame) and at scientific institutes abroad, like the Institute of Research Ecology at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Dresden, Germany). This institute manages an experimental station that specializes on radioactive materials at the European Synchrotron Research Facility (Grenoble, France), where I have also collaborated with incredible people who mentored me to materialize our research ideas, and explore emerging analytical techniques in geochemistry. The unique strengths and experiences of each person, and the rich diversity of these teams are what makes all of them excel in their bold pursuits. As a geoscientist with intersecting identities, I have the drive to work towards expanding inclusivity and diversity within the geosciences. At Notre Dame, I partnered with 2 fellow PhD students to co-write a proposal that was ultimately funded by the Center for Social Concerns at the University of Notre Dame to start a research experience program where we mentored 2 local high school students during the 2022 calendar year (March-December) and introduced them to scientific research. I have also participated in multiple panels and workshops that serve to educate undergraduates on conducting research and graduate programs. I wish to serve on the Executive Board to expand on this mission of helping make geosciences more inclusive and accessible.
More concretely, I would like to work with the Executive Board to find ways to:
- Make the Goldschmidt conference more accessible to low-income and/or members of underserved communities (e.g., support for supplies like on-site poster printing for selected applicants, updating grant awards to cover increasing travel costs).
- Help the growth of inclusivity/participation programming within and outside of Goldschmidt.
For example, more workshops geared towards increasing diversity in geosciences, fostering equity and fair representation of oral session presenters (early career, gender, race, etc.), facilitating/fostering partnerships with undergraduate-serving institutions and high schools, networking events for early-career and pivoting researchers. - Increase access to advanced analytical techniques (e.g., synchrotron techniques) for early career geoscientists and scientists from institutions with fewer resources (e.g., minority-serving institutions and underrepresented countries).
- Help make the scientific writing and publishing processes more accessible through workshops and other resources.