Dr. Christopher Spencer Receives Young Scientist Award from GSA

Congratulations to Dr. Christopher Spencer, who has received the 2020 Young Scientist Award (Donath Medal) from the Geological Society of America (GSA). 

The Young Scientist Award was established in 1988 to be awarded to a young scientist (35 or younger) for outstanding achievement in contributing to geologic knowledge through original research that marks a major advance in the earth sciences.

Dr. Spencer recently joined the Queen's University Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering, having completed a five year Early Career Research Fellowship at Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia. Dr. Spencer's research seeks to understand the formation, destruction, and secular evolution of the continental crust. This award is well deserved and a sign of what is sure to be a prosperous career.

Department Head Dr. Vicki Remenda notes that Dr. Spencer’s research is highly recognized; he has earned an h-index of 24, with over 1700 citations, despite having only completed his Ph.D. in 2014.  His achievements are outstanding for such a young scholar.  Dr. Ray Price, Queen’s emeritus professor and world-renowned geologist, praised Dr. Spencer’s work saying his “….work and ideas are the most exciting I have had seen in a decade”.

As the annual GSA meeting in Montreal has been pushed to a virtual platform, the awards ceremony will most likely take place virtually.

Further information about the Donath Medal can be found on the GSA website. 

Congratulations, Dr. Spencer!