The IUGS-COGE Chris King Medal on Geoscience Education Excellence

The IUGS-COGE institutes the Chris King Medal to recognize and reward outstanding educators who have made significant contributions to the field of geoscience education.

The prize will be awarded biannually to commemorate the life and work of Professor Chris King, his significant achievements in the advancement of geosciences education and his important role in the development of geoscience education worldwide. The biennial award program will encourage and inspire educators to continue working and promoting the importance of geoscience education globally.

 

Chris King Medal Benefits

The awardees will receive a medal and a platform to showcase their work and share their knowledge with the education community through a webinar or workshop. They will be presented on the IUGS-COGE website and social media links of COGE every two years and featured at the COGE Session during the International Geological Congress.

Purpose

The Medal aims to acknowledge the accomplishments of the late Professor Chris King, a luminary in the field of geoscience education and seeks to inspire the next generation of geoscience educators by recognizing exemplary leadership in geoscience education. It will be awarded to educators who stand out for their exceptional teaching, dedication to service, effectiveness, and strong moral and ethical values at all levels of education. They show commitment, make sacrifices, and achieve success in geosciences education. They serve as role models, dedicating a minimum of 10 years of continuous work in this field and contributing to the advancement of Earth Sciences, education outreach, and the comprehensive training of young professionals and technicians.

 

Eligibility and Evaluation Criteria

Eligible candidates must be current or retired geoscience educators with at least 10 years of experience. Candidates will be evaluated based on their exceptional contributions in the following areas:

 

1. Eligibility Criteria (Basic Requirements)

  • Minimum 10 years of continuous work in geoscience education.
  • Demonstrated leadership in Earth Sciences education, outreach, and professional training
  • A record of significant contributions to educational resource development, teaching, and mentorship

 

2. Excellence Criteria (Evaluation Areas)

Candidates will be assessed based on their exceptional contributions in:

  • Innovative teaching methods
  • Development of educational resources
  • Impact on students engagement, mentorship, outreach programs, and broader educational initiatives
  • Professional service and leadership
  •  length of and continuity of service
  • Recognition & Legacy; Acknowledgments from national or international bodies, awards, leadership in professional associations.

How to nominate candidates for the Chris King Medal 2025

Nomination

Candidates for the Chris King Medal must be nominated by an IUGS member.

To nominate a candidate you should fill out the nomination form which must be submitted via email to contact_iugscoge@iugscoge.org, with the subject “Nomination for the Chris King Medal”, and attaching the documents included in the checklist.

Nominations will be accepted from educators worldwide and will be reviewed by an international panel of experts in the field of geoscience education.

Important dates

  • Call for applications will open in Jan 2025
  • Application deadline: 7th of July
  • Announcement of awardee in the website: 30th of September

Meet the winner of the 2023 Chris King Medal: Dr. Hector Lacreu

Photography: Dr. Héctor Lacreu (2023)

Dr. Héctor Luis Lacreu, a visionary geologist and educator, has been recognized with the prestigious Chris King Medal 2023 for his transformative contributions to geoscience education. Since 1996, Dr. Lacreu has championed innovative teaching methods that prioritize fieldwork experiences over traditional lab experiments. He introduced a groundbreaking approach, leveraging the local geological landscape to engage students in reconstructing its historical evolution using his unique “geological alphabet.”

Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Lacreu has enriched educational resources. Notably, through the “COPLA” project at the Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Argentina, he coordinated the creation of thematic educational posters to hang in classrooms, interactive tools, and educational kits known as “valijas geolodácticas.” These resources are available to all schools in San Luis, underscoring his dedication to hands-on learning.

His impact resonates in Argentina’s revised natural science curricula, which have prominently integrated an enriched geoscience section since 1996. His works is palpable not just in Argentina but also across Latin America and beyond, evidenced by the widespread international consultations of his publications.

Besides his academic endeavours, Dr Lacreu’s leadership in various national and international projects is commendable. Among his accolades, the “Juan José Nágera” award in 2017 stands out, recognizing his efforts in popularizing geosciences.

From pioneering the university extension project “COPLA” to establishing the first museum at the Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Dr. Lacreu’s vision has always been forward-looking. His legacy thrives in his latest venture, the “Geología Ciudadana” (Citizen Geology) blog, where he perpetuates the significance of geology’s role in society, rendering it inclusive and captivating for everyone.

In honouring Dr Lacreu with the Chris King Medal, we celebrate a luminary who has reshaped geoscience education for the better. His work, echoing through classrooms and beyond, will undoubtedly inspire generations of geoscientists.

IUGS-COGE Chris King Medal Ceremony 2024 (XXII Argentinian Geological Congress)