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International Section
Awards
Honorary Fellow | Distinguished Career
Inaugural International Section Honorary Fellow Award
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| Sospeter Mwijarubi Muhongo |
The International Section is pleased to announce in 2012 the selection of their first Honorary Fellow, Sospeter Mwijarubi Muhongo, who is a professor at the University of Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania.
The section’s Honorary Fellowship is presented to an international geoscientist who has distinguished him-or herself in geoscience investigations, promoting environmental awareness, linking science and society, providing notable service to implementing public policy in natural resource managements, or otherwise making outstanding contributions to science. The inaugural award was presented at the International Section’s Reception at the 2012 GSA Annual Meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.
Muhongo is an international figure who has dedicated well over 30 years to advancing geoscience knowledge through teaching, research, and various consulting assignments. He is well-known for bedrock mapping of Tanzania and various international projects connected with the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), the International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE), and Gondwana Research. Muhongo, a native of Tanzania, earned his B.S. from the University of Dar Es Salam and his Ph.D. from Technische Universität Berlin (FRG). He has published more than 75 refereed papers in international journals and presented numerous talks dealing with hard-rock geochemistry, tectonics, economic mineral resources, and environmental aspects pertaining to the African craton; he has also served as editor for Gondwana Research Journal. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to promoting geosciences to the African nations, Muhongo was elected as Fellow of the Geological Society of London in 2005.
GSA’s International Section Management Board members had the privilege and honor of assessing Muhongo’s candidacy for Honorary Fellow, and International Section Councilor Víctor Ramos was enthusiastic, having personally known Muhongo since their years in the IUGS. The International Section deeply appreciates Muhongo’s notable service in preparing the next generation of geoscientists and his relentless efforts in bringing about environmental awareness among African scientists.
Distinguished Career Award
The Distinguished Career Award will be given to a geologist who has made numerous, distinguished, and significant contributions that have clearly advanced the international geological sciences through service and or scientific activities. The award will consist of a plaque inscribed with the name of the recipient, the name of the award, the name of the Section, and the emblem of The Geological Society of America. The award will be presented at the annual business meeting of the International Section.
2010 Recipient
W. Gary Ernst
Stanford University (emeritus)
Citation by Yildirim Dilek
[ View Citations & Response ]
Deadline for Award Nominations: 1 March
Past Recipients
2009 - Yildirim Dilek, The Miami University [ view citation/response ]
2008 - Rolf Emmermann, GeoForschungsZentrum, Potsdam, Germany [ view citation/response ]
2007 - Alan Gilbert Smith, Cambridge University [ view citation/response ]
2006 - Eldridge M. Moores, University of California, Davis [ view citation/response ]
2003 - John A. Reinemund, USGS Chief of Internation Programs [ view citation/response ]



