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Key Lectures at the EMC 2024 in Dublin

The EMU invites you to attend two outstanding lectures of the EMU Medallists at the upcoming European Mineralogical Conference (EMC 2024) in Dublin.

Plenary Lecture by Jakub Kierczak
Date and Time: Friday, 23rd August, 8:30 – 9:00 am
Title: Ultramafic geosystems: a source of metallic elements to the environment
Speaker: Jakub Kierczak, EMU Research Excellence Medallist 2022

Keynote Presentation by José Alberto Padrón-Navarta
Date and Time: Tuesday, 20th August, 3:00 – 3:40 pm
Session: 26/28
Title: Redox Dehydration in Subduction Zones
Speaker: José Alberto Padrón-Navarta, EMU Research Excellence Medallist 2023

EMU Research Excellence Medal 2023

Jose-2024-narWe are delighted to announce the recipient of the EMU Research Excellence Medal 2023 – Dr. José Alberto Padrón-Navarta (Andalusian Earth Science Institute IACT, Granada, Spain).

Dr. Padrón-Navarta has achieved remarkable success in the fields of mineralogy and petrology, offering groundbreaking insights into the cycle and fate of volatiles through Earth’s subduction zones.

Congratulations, Dr. Padrón-Navarta, on earning this prestigious award in recognition of your exceptional contributions to Earth sciences!

EMU lecture – Jakub Kierczak

Jakub KierczakThe European Mineralogical Union (EMU) invites you to an online lecture of the 2022 EMU Research Excellence Medal recipient, Dr. Jakub Kierczak from the University of Wrocław, Poland, titled
“Ultramafic geosystems as a source of metallic elements to the environment“.

The lecture was held on 5th December 2023
at 12:00 CET on-line via Zoom.

Royal Society special double issue – Exploring the length scales, timescales and chemistry of challenging materials

Exploring the length scales, timescales and chemistry of challenging materials

Royal Society Publishing has recently published a special double issue of Philosophical Transactions A: Exploring the length scales, timescales and chemistry of challenging materials (Part I & II) compiled and edited by C Richard A Catlow, Chris Howard, Andrea Sella, Ana Jorge Sobrido, and Martin Wilding.

The articles can be accessed directly at www.bit.ly/TransA2258 and www.bit.ly/TransA2259
A print version is also available at the special price of £40.00 per issue from sales@royalsociety.org

This special double issue of Philosophical Transactions A honours the scientific contributions of our dear friend and colleague
Prof. Paul F. McMillan (University College London), who sadly passed away in 2022.
Paul was a major contributor to solid-state science, materials chemistry and high-pressure physics. He also deeply influenced and contributed to the field of mineralogy under extreme conditions of temperature and pressure. He developed a unique framework for understanding the microscopic and vibrational properties underpinning the macroscopic characteristics of melts and minerals.

EMU Student Travel Grants 2023:
Hannah Pollak and Ruth Esther Delina
at the Goldschmidt Conference

During the Goldschmidt Conference on geochemistry, held from 9th to 14th July 2023 in Lyon, two young researchers, Hannah Pollak (University of Edinburgh) and Ruth Esther Delina (GFZ Helmholtz Centre Potsdam), were granted the opportunity to explore the forefront of geochemical research and immerse themselves in the geochemical scientific community, thanks to the support of EMU Student Travel Grants.
Their wonderful experiences were beautifully captured in the photos shared below.

Hannah Pollak : Understanding interactions between amino acids and nontronite clays: What is the effect of ions?

Hannah Pollak : Understanding interactions between amino acids and nontronite clays: What is the effect of ions?


Ruth Esther Delina : Distribution and speciation of chromium in active and legacy nickel laterite tailings

Ruth Esther Delina : Distribution and speciation of chromium in active and legacy nickel laterite tailings

We wish Hannah and Ruth all the best in their future endeavours and eagerly await the next generation of advanced research results they will bring to the scientific community!

EMU Research Excellence Medal 2022

Jakub Kierczak EMU medalIt is with great pleasure that we announce the recipient of the EMU Research Excellence Medal 2022 – Dr. Jakub Kierczak.

Dr. Kierczak is an accomplished researcher who has made substantial contributions to the scientific research on the mobility and distribution of metals in natural and anthropogenic soils. His main research topic has focused on reconstructing migration paths of metallic elements from ultramafic rocks and metallurgical slags, combining methods of geochemistry, geology, mineralogy, soil science, and biology in studying rocks, soils, and plants.
In addition to his impressive research activity, Dr. Kierczak has played an active role in integrating the mineralogical community in Poland as a member of the Society’s Board and, since December 2020, as the President of the Mineralogical Society of Poland.
Dr. Jakub Kierczak’s interdisciplinary approach, combined with his dedication to advancing scientific knowledge, makes him a deserving recipient of the 2022 Research Excellence Medal.
Congratulations, Dr. Kierczak, on this well-deserved recognition of your outstanding scientific achievements!

EMU Research Excellence Medal 2021 Ceremony

The EMU Research Excellence Medal 2021 ceremony was held at the Cité Centre de Congrès in Lyon during the 23rd General Meeting of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA 2022, 18-22 July).

The Vice-President of the EMU, Isabelle Daniel, congratulated the two winners of the year 2021, Sylvain Bernard and Matteo Alvaro, for excellence in research.

Sylvain Bernard Matteo Alvaro

European Mineralogical Union Statement about the Invasion of Ukraine

The unprovoked attack against Ukraine, a democratic and independent country, is a violation of international law. It is an assault on the fundamental principles of freedom, democracy and self-determination, which provide the basis for academic freedom and opportunities for scientific exchange and cooperation. The EMU calls on the Russian leadership to immediately cease all military action against Ukraine and put an end to this war.
We believe that science should be free and unimpeded by borders and politics. Mutual respect is essential to make our world a more civilised and peaceful place. As the situation in Ukraine continues to worsen, we add our voices to those throughout the international scientific community – including many Russians who have spoken out against this war – in hoping for a peaceful and swift resolution.

EMU Research Excellence Medals 2021

EMU medalThe 2021 EMU Research Excellence Medal is awarded jointly to
Dr. Sylvain Bernard and Dr. Matteo Alvaro.

They are both excellent scientists, who have developed new methodologies for their fields of study and have come up with new ideas which can be used by the scientific community.
Both of them are mentors and role models to a generation of young scientists, carry out highly innovative and inspiring research and have developed an impressive network of worldwide connections and projects. They were both scored with very high ratings (32 vs. 30) by the committee during the evaluation of their nominations.
For these reasons, the 2021 EMU Medal Committee has agreed that they both deserve to be recipients of the 2021 Research Excellence Award of the European Mineralogical Union.

EMU Research Excellence Medal 2020

The medal is presented to an early career scientist who has made significant contributions to research in mineralogy and whose professional and societal activities contribute to strengthening scientific links in Europe.

goldschmidt2021
Oliver Plümper
Utrecht University

Citation and Medal Lecture
Friday 9 July 09:00 Room 02; online
“The nanoscale control of reactive fluids on geological processes within the solid Earth“


Oliver Plümper 2020 EMU Research Excellence Medal pdf