The IUGS-COGE Chris King Medal on Geoscience Education Excellence
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.
Purpose
The Prize aims to acknowledge the accomplishments the late Professor Chris King, a luminary in the field of 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.
Award Criteria and nominations
Eligible candidates must be current or retired educators from the field of geoscience education with at least 10 years of experience. Candidates will be evaluated based on their exceptional contributions in the following areas:
- Innovative teaching methods
- Development of educational resources
- Impact on students and the education community
- Professional service and leadership
- length of and continuity of service
Nominations will be accepted from educators worldwide and will be reviewed by an international panel of experts in the field of geoscience education. They must provide the following documents about the candidate:
A nomination form filled by an IUGS member (please read “Nomination Procedure” below).
A CV (about 1 page) and a list of up to 10 selected publications or projects. It should also highlight membership and leadership in different associations, recognition at national/international level, that show the focus on geoscience education.
A Statement of impact. A concise statement of achievements for merits in the field and encomium of the candidate and his/her work (no more than 500 words).
Letters of support (at least 1 from a recognised geoscience institution
Proposals must be submitted through an email to: contact_iugscoge@iugscoge.org, with the subject “Nomination for the Chris King Medal”
The successful nominee will be decided by the Awards Committee of IUGS-COGE.
How to nominate candidates for the CK Medal 2025
How to nominate candidates for the CK Medal 2025
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.
Schedule
- Call for applications will open in December 2024
- Application deadline: nominations should be submitted by 15 January 2025
- Review of applications: by 15 February 2025
- Announcement of awardee in the website: from 15 March 202
The Chris King Medal 2023 Winner: Dr. Héctor Luis Lacreu
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.