We are thrilled to announce that Tanya Atwater has just been awarded the Penrose Medal by the Geological Society of America, one of the highest distinctions an Earth Scientist can attain globally. Tanya joins such luminaries as Harry Hess, John Crowell, Preston Cloud, and Tuzo Wilson.

The Penrose Medal, established in 1927 by R.A.F. Penrose, Jr., recognizes eminent research in pure geology, for outstanding original contributions or achievements that mark a major advance in the science of geology.

Nominator Peter Molnar, University of Colorado, called Atwater, “The Mother of Plate Tectonics.” She brought understanding to processes at mid-ocean ridges, and more importantly, showed how the quantitative elegance and simplicity of plate tectonics could be brought to continents to understand their history with numbers, not with just qualitative analogies.

The official announcement is here. (https://www.geosociety.org/GSA/News/pr/2019/19-25.aspx)

Congratulations to Tanya!