About the GSA Awards & Medals

GSA supports a number of awards and medals to recognize excellence. On this page you will find a description of each award in addition to nominating information. For more information contact Program Officer - Grants, Awards & Recognition, at (303) 357-1028.

  Penrose Medal

The Penrose Medal was established in 1927 by R.A.F. Penrose, Jr., to be awarded in recognition of eminent research in pure geology, for outstanding original contributions or achievements that mark a major advance in the science of geology.

The award is made only at the discretion of the Council, which interprets pure geology to apply to all scientific disciplines represented by the Society. Nominees, represented by the Council, may or may not be members of the Society, and may be from any nation. Penrose's sole objective in making the gift was to encourage original work in purely scientific geology. Scientific achievements should be considered rather than contributions in teaching, administration, or service. Mid-career scientists who have already made exceptional contributions should be given full consideration for the award.

  Arthur L. Day Medal

The Arthur L. Day Medal was established in 1948 by Arthur L. Day to be awarded annually, or less frequently, at the discretion of the Council, for outstanding distinction in contributing to geologic knowledge through the application of physics and chemistry to the solution of geologic problems.

Dr. Day's intent was to recognize outstanding achievements and inspire further effort, rather than reward a distinguished career. Scientific achievements should be considered rather than contributions in teaching, administration, and service.

  Young Scientist Award

(Donath Medal)
The Young Scientist Award was established in 1988 to be awarded to a young scientist (35 or younger throughout the year in which the award is to be presented) for outstanding achievement in contributing to geologic knowledge through original research that marks a major advance in the earth sciences.

For 2008, only those candidates born on or after 1 January 1973 are eligible for consideration.

The award, consisting of a gold medal called the Donath Medal and a cash prize of $20,000, was endowed by Dr. and Mrs. Fred A. Donath.

  GSA Distinguished Service Award

The GSA Distinguished Service Award recognizes individuals for exceptional service to the Society. GSA Members, Fellows, Associates, and employees may be nominated for consideration. Any GSA member or employee may make a nomination for the award. Awardees are selected by the Executive Committee, and all selections are ratified by the Council.

  GSA Public Service Award

The GSA Public Service Award in honor of Eugene and Carolyn Shoemaker, was established by Council in 1998 to be awarded for contributions that have materially enhanced the public's understanding of the earth sciences, or significantly served decision-makers in the application of scientific and technical information in public affairs and public policy related to the earth sciences. This may be accomplished by individual achievement through:

• Authorship of education materials of high scientific quality that have enjoyed widespread use and acclaim among educators or the general public,
• Authorship of technical publications that have significantly advanced scientific concepts or techniques applicable to the resolution of earth-resource or environmental issues of public concern,
• Other individual accomplishments that have advanced the earth sciences in public interest.

The award will normally go to a GSA member, with exceptions approved by Council. It may be presented posthumously to a descendent of the awardee.

  GSA President's Medal

Commissioned in 2007, the President's Medal of the Geological Society of America will be conferred only on individuals, groups, or entities whose impact has profoundly enhanced the geoscience profession (a) through supporting and contributing to the Society; (b) by advancing geosciences, enhancing professional growth, and/or promoting geosciences in service of humankind: and/or (c) significantly enlarging the range of scientific achievement for the growth of our profession.

  Bromery Award for the Minorities

Randolph W. "Bill" and Cecile T. Bromery established the Bromery Fund for Minorities with the GSA Foundation in 1999 to provide support for the Randolph W. "Bill" and Cecile T. Bromery Award for the Minorities. The award shall be awarded to persons, preferably African Americans, “who have made significant contributions to research in the geological sciences, or those who have been instrumental in opening the geoscience field to other minorities.”

  Subaru Outstanding Woman in Science Award

This award sponsored by Subaru of America, Inc.

In partnership with Subaru and in memory of Doris M. Curtis, GSA makes an annual Outstanding Woman in Science Award as a means to encourage women in the geosciences.

The Woman in Science Award will be awarded to a woman that has impacted the field of the geosciences in a major way based on their Ph.D. research. Women are eligible for the first 3 years following her degree. The 2006 award will be $2,500 and it will be presented at the GSA Annual Meeting in Philadelphia.

Doris Curtis was GSA's 103rd President. Her popularity was widespread and she pioneered many new directions for geology, not the least of which was her tenure as GSA President after an unbroken chain of 102 men. Causes dear to Doris were women, public awareness, minorities and education.

  Honorary Fellows

Geologists who have distinguished themselves in geological investigations or in notable service to the Society may be elected as Honorary Fellows. In practice, nearly all candidates are non-North Americans who live and work outside of North America. The most noteworthy exceptions were astronauts. Most Honorary Fellows have been elected after many years of outstanding and internationally recognized contributions to the science. Honorary Fellows do not have to be members of GSA to be considered.

The program was established by the GSA Council in 1909, and since then, except during a few war years, one or more Honorary Fellows have been elected annually.

The Council of the Society encourages the membership to submit names of qualified candidates for this honor. In preparing a nomination, it is imperative that the original research and scientific advances of the candidate be stressed. All supporting data, especially degrees received, publications, positions, etc., should also be verified by the nominator.

  John C. Frye Environmental Geology Award

In cooperation with the Association of American State Geologists (AASG), GSA makes an annual award for the best paper on environmental geology published either by GSA or by one of the state geological surveys. The award is $1,000 cash from the endowment income of the GSA Foundation's John C. Frye Memorial Fund.

The paper must be selected from GSA or state geological survey publications; it must be selected from those published during the preceding three full calendar years; and the nomination must include a paragraph stating the pertinence of the paper.

Nominated papers must establish an environmental problem or need; provide substantive information on the basic geology or geologic process pertinent to the problem; relate the geology to the problem or need; suggest solutions or provide appropriate land-use recommendations based on the geology; present the information in a manner that is understandable and directly usable by geologists; and address the environmental need or resolve the problem. It is preferred that the paper be directly applicable by informed laypersons (e.g., planners, engineers).