Congratulations to 2015 CGU Award winners!
Our annual meeting is a chance to celebrate the achievements of our members – including students. The 2015 Joint Assembly was no different, with a range of members recognized at the well-attended awards banquet. This is the first in a series of posts that introduces you to our award winners!
Senior Union Level Award Winners
J. Tuzo Wilson Medal
Congratulations Kelin Wang!
The J Tuzo Wilson Medal is the CGU’s highest honour, and is given annually to recognize scientists who make outstanding contributions to the advancement of knowledge in any research area of the Union. Factors taken into account in the selection process include excellence in scientific or technical research, instrument development, industrial applications, and/or teaching.
Kelin has been a pioneer and world leader in geophysics, making fundamental contributions to the observation, theory, and modeling of earthquake and geodynamic processes at subduction plate boundaries, and exceptional contributions in geophysical modeling.
His nominators also describe him as “an incredibly nice guy, very accessible and happy to engage in a wide range of project, problems, and conversations, with almost anyone on all topics.”
Young Scientist Award
Congratulations Jeff McKenzie
The Young Scientist Award recognizes outstanding research contributions – both research quality and impact – by young scientists who are CGU members. Recipients must be within 10 years of obtaining their first PhD or equivalent degree.
Interestingly, Jeff began his university studies in music. He has subsequently made important contributions to physical hydrology and hydrogeology, including alpine hydrology in the glaciated Peruvian Andes and the numerical modelling of cold region processes. He has also applied novel geochemical techniques to wetland hydrology, contaminated sites, and most recently to identifying pathways for shale gas extraction contaminants.
As one of his referees notes, “he is truly modest and definitely not a self-important prima donna. He is the type of colleague with whom I look forward to meeting at conferences to bounce ideas around over a beer at the end of a day’s sessions.”