GS Endorses Africa Initiative for Planetary and Space Sciences
June 15, 2017
Research groups in planetary and space sciences are now emerging in Africa, but remain scattered and underfunded. To elevate planetary and space science across the entire African continent, a group of researchers is developing the Africa Initiative for Planetary and Space Sciences. It will involve coordinated actions with international partners for training M.Sc. and Ph.D. students, for developing locally-based scientific facilities, and for the progressive integration of the fascinating discoveries about our solar system into university curricula.
The identified benefits of education and research programs in these fields and the call for endorsement of this initiative are presented in two articles published this week in EOS:
https://eos.org/opinions/africa-initiative-for-planetary-and-space-sciences
https://eos.org/features/the-state-of-planetary-and-space-sciences-in-africa
In May, the GS Board of Directors voted to endorse the initiative along with AGU, EAG, and many other societies. Learn more at https://africapss.org.
GS Joins the March for Science
March 22, 2017
One of the great strengths of the Geochemical Society is its diversity. This includes a diversity of topical interests, of geographic origin, of gender, but also of cultural values and of political perspectives. Nevertheless, we are united by a love of science, that is, by a profound curiosity and by the understanding that answers to our questions about how the physcial world functions can only be achieved through careful observations, analyses and experiments. The factual information provided by scientific research has provided solutions in areas ranging from healthcare to the food supply, from airplanes to cell phones to the exploration of our solar system and universe. A fact-based understanding of the physical world is thus critical to the welfare of humanity.
For this reason, we join numerous other scientific organizations, including the AGU, the AAAS and the EAG, in supporting the March for Science that will be held in Washington, DC, and also around the world, on Earth Day (April 22, 2017). The objective of the March is to underscore the importance of science to so many aspects of human life, and in consequence, to support the assertion that public policy should be informed by solid scientific evidence.
If you would like to find out how you can support the March for Science or join a local march, visit the organizers' website.
Goldschmidt 2020: Honolulu, Hawai'i
March 09, 2017
(image courtesy of Hawaii Tourism Authority)
The GS and EAG are excited to announce that the 2020 Goldschmidt Conference® will take place June 21-26 at the Hawai'i Convention Center in Honolulu, HI, USA. The geologically fascinating state of Hawai'i will provide a warm welcome to delegates from around the world. Mark your calendar for upcoming conferences and plan to participate in the world's premier meeting devoted to geochemistry!
Jill Banfield Named 2017 V.M. Goldschmidt Medalist
February 22, 2017
Jill Banfield, professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Science at the University of California, Berkeley, will receive the 2017 V. M. Goldschmidt Award this summer. The Goldschmidt Award recognizes major achievements in geochemistry or cosmochemistry consisting of either a single outstanding contribution or a series of publications that have had great influence on the field. Prof. Banfield studies the structure, metabolic potential and functioning of natural microbial communities in sediments, soil, water, biofilms and animals. She develops and applies new methods in molecular geomicrobiology and microbial ecology. She also studies nanoparticle formation and the behavior of nanoparticles and clay minerals in the natural environment (nanogeoscience). The award will be formally presented at the Goldschmidt 2017 conference in Paris, France this August.
Kai-Uwe Hinrichs Named 2017 C.C. Patterson Medalist
February 22, 2017
Kai-Uwe Hinrichs, professor of organic geochemistry in the Department of Geosciences/MARUM, University of Bremen, will receive the 2017 Clair C. Patterson Award this summer. The Patterson Award recognizes an innovative breakthrough of fundamental significance in environmental geochemistry, particularly in service of society, consisting of either a single outstanding contribution or a short series of papers published within the last decade. Prof. Dr. Hinrichs is recognized for his work on the interactions between microbial life and the carbon cycle on a range of spatial, temporal and molecular scales. The award will be formally presented at the Goldschmidt 2017 conference in Paris, France this August.
Francis McCubbin Named 2017 F.W. Clarke Medalist
February 22, 2017
Francis M. McCubbin, astromaterials curator in the NASA Johnson Space Center's Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division, will receive the 2017 F.W. Clarke Award this summer. The Clarke Award recognizes an early-career scientist for a single outstanding contribution to geochemistry or cosmochemistry published either as a single paper or a series of papers on a single topic. Dr. McCubbin is recognized for his work on water in apatite that changed our understanding of volatiles in the moon. The award will be formally presented at the Goldschmidt 2017 conference in Paris, France this August.
John Hayes (1940-2017)
February 10, 2017
(Image courtesy of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)
John Michael Hayes, born September 6, 1940, passed away at his home in Berkeley, California, on February 3, 2017. John Hayes was a leader in the fields of organic geochemistry and biogeochemistry who opened these fields to stable isotopes with his pioneering work in compound specific isotopes (CSIA). The impact of CSIA in present day chemistry has been wide-reachin; it is used in drug analyses, forensic geochemistry, food processing, blood testing, and environmental geochemistry, and it has entered the popular culture via forensic science focused TV shows. His generosity of spirit and enthusiasm for bringing together the ideas and practitioners of geology, chemistry, and biology to inform each other, was at the core of his impact across disciplines. His ground-breaking work in CSIA and his legacy of an interdisciplinary approach to research was transformative and contributed profoundly to our understanding of the Earth's organic processes.
Nominate a Colleague for the GS Distinguished Service Award
February 03, 2017
Do you know someone who has made an extraordinary contribution to the Geochemical Society or to the scientific community? The Distinguished Service Award was established to recognize them. Learn more about the award and the nomination process and submit your nomination by March 10, 2017.
New Lecture Honoring Robert Berner
October 05, 2016
Students and friends of the late Bob Berner are working to establish an annual lecture at the Goldschmidt Conference to commemorate his intellectual legacy in geochemistry. The lecture will be on a 'Berner' subject, which includes a wide range of topics associated with elemental cycling at the Earth's surface (molecular to planetary scale, modern to ancient oceanic and terrestrial systems, evolution of the biosphere, etc). The lecturer will be selected jointly by the Geochemical Society and the European Association of Geochemistry. Contributions will go directly to supporting the lecturer's travel to Goldschmidt every year.
Listen to BBC World Service Program from Goldschmidt2016
July 25, 2016
The BBC World Service traveled to Goldschmidt2016 in June to record an episode of the radio program The Forum. The episode, "The Unpredictable Planet: Understanding Volcanoes and Earthquakes," is now available for online listening on the BBC's website. It is also available as a free podcast from the iTunes store.