2026 Award Recipients

A. Joshua West , Professor, Earth Sciences and Environmental Studies | University of Southern California Adam M. Milewski , Department Head, Department of Geology | University of Georgia Antonio Pola Villaseñor , Senior Lecturer | Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores - Morelia, UNAM Barret Kurylyk , Professor, Department of Civil and Resource Engineering, Principal Hydrogeological Engineer | Dalhousie University | BGC Engineering Inc. Benjamin Tutolo , Associate Professor, Department of Earth, Energy, and Environment | University of Calgary Bradley D. Cramer , Professor, School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability | University of Iowa Brandon Schmandt , Professor, Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences | Rice University Britta Jensen , Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Quaternary Volcanism | University of Alberta Brett M. Carpenter , Associate Professor of Geosciences | University of Oklahoma Brian J. Yanites , Associate Professor, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences | Indiana University Brian A. Schubert , Director, School of Geosciences | University of Louisiana Christy B. Till , Associate Professor | Arizona State University Daniel Shugar , Director and Associate Professor, Environmental Science Program | University of Calgary Dawn A. Kellett , Research Scientist, Atlantic Division, Natural Resources Canada | Geological Survey of Canada Deanne van Rooyen , Associate Professor | Acadia University Donnelly B. Archibald , Senior Lab Instructor, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences | St. Francis Xavier University Doug Edmonds , Professor, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences | Indiana University Edwin Nissen , Professor, School of Earth and Ocean Sciences | University of Victoria Elizabeth K. Thomas , Associate Professor, Dept. of Earth Sciences | University at Buffalo Elisa Fitz Díaz, Tenured Researcher | Instituto de Geología, UNAM Fernando Núñez Useche , Researcher, Department of Lithospheric Processes | Instituto de Geología, UNAM Heather Wright , Director, USGS Volcano Disaster Assistance Program | U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Isla S. Castañeda , Professor | University of Massachusetts Amherst James D. Schiffbauer , Professor, Department of Geological Sciences | University of Missouri Jamie Kirkpatrick , Associate Professor, Dept. Geological Sciences and Engineering | University of Nevada, Reno Jay P. Zarnetske , Professor, Dept. of Earth & Environmental Sciences | Michigan State University Jane Willenbring , Associate Professor, Earth and Planetary Sciences | Stanford University Jessica Pilarczyk , Associate Professor, School of Earth & Ocean Sciences | Simon Fraser University John M. Cottle , Professor of Earth Science | University of California, Santa Barbara J. Kim Welford , Professor, Department of Earth Sciences, Memorial | University of Newfoundland Kyle Larson , Associate Dean and Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Director | University of British Columbia | Fipke Laboratory for Trace Element Research Luke Beranek , Professor, Department of Earth Sciences | Memorial University of Newfoundland Marina B. Suarez , Associate Professor & Director, KPESIL |University of Kansas Matthew Steele-MacInnis , Professor, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences | University of Alberta Michael M. McGlue, Director and State Geologist, EES Alumni Endowed, Full Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences | Kentucky Geological Survey | University of Kentucky Michelangelo Martini , Professor | Instituto de Geología, UNAM Nadia S. Santini , Senior Researcher | Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) Nicholas Schmerr , Associate Professor, Department of Geology | University of Maryland Pamela Lee Sullivan , Professor, College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science | Oregon State University Peter C. Lippert , Associate Professor, Dept. of Geology & Geophysics | University of Utah Phoebe A. Cohen, Professor, Department of Geosciences | Williams College Raquel Negrete-Aranda , Researcher, Department of Geology | Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE) Ricardo Ferreira Louro Silva , Assistant Professor, Department of Earth Sciences | The University of Manitoba Sara B. Pruss , Esther Cloudman Dunn Chaired Professor of Geosciences | Smith College Simon M. Jowitt , Director and Nevada State Geologist, Professor of Economic Geology | Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology (NBMG) | University of Nevada, Reno Stephan Kolzenburg , Assistant Professor, Department of Geology | University at Buffalo (UB) Stéphanie Larmagnat , Research Scientist | Geological Survey of Canada | Natural Resources Canada Tom Darrah , Professor, School of Earth Sciences | The Ohio State University | Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer | Koloma, Inc. Timothy Glotch , Professor, Department of Geosciences, Joint Appointee | Stony Brook University | Brookhaven National Laboratory Tyrone O. Rooney , Professor, Dept. of Earth & Environmental Sciences | Michigan State University

The 50 Under 50 Award: Honoring Mid-Career Excellence and Leadership in Geoscience

GSA International Awards

The 50 Under 50 Award: Honoring Mid-Career Excellence and Leadership in Geoscience

The 50 Under 50 Award is a joint initiative of the Geological Society of America (GSA), the Geological Association of Canada (GAC-AGC), and the Sociedad Geológica Mexicana (SGM) that honors outstanding mid-career geoscientists across North America who are making significant contributions through research, service, and mentorship.

Up to 50 geoscientists under the age of 50 will be recognized each year, and awardees will be highlighted by the societies and invited to participate in special sessions and activities at upcoming meetings, helping elevate their work and expand their professional visibility.

Applications can be submitted in English, Spanish, or French.

Explore GSA International Nominations Closed

Award Recipients

2026 Award Recipient Bios

2026 Awardees

Recipients will be recognized across GSA, GAC, and SGM platforms and invited to participate in special sessions at upcoming meetings, providing additional visibility for their work and impact.

Questions? Contact gsa_international@geosociety.org or visit GSA International

The 50 Under 50 Award: Honoring Mid-Career Excellence and Leadership in Geoscience

Award Recipients

Read Awardee Bios

2026 Awardees

Additional Information