Science Writer Richard Kerr Wins Geological Society of America Award

Richard Kerr, senior writer at Science, has won the 2006 Geological Society of America Public Service Award for his contributions to public understanding of the earth sciences.

Kerr, who was elected a Geological Society of America Fellow in 1995, will accept his award during the GSA Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, Pa., at the Presidential Address and Awards Ceremony on 21 October 2006.

Kerr was cited “for both the breadth and depth of his knowledge, amassed by scouring the scholarly publications, listening to countless presentations at meetings and conferences, and interviewing those whose work is on the leading edge of their disciplines.”

"Dick's articles in Science are a delight to read," said Rob Van der Voo, Frank H.T. Rhodes Professor of Geological Sciences at the University of Michigan, who nominated Kerr for the award. "They are always interesting, novel, and timely, whether breaking ground on an emerging geoscience topic or providing in-depth, comprehensive analysis of a topic over time."

Over almost 30 years, Kerr has written more than 1,200 science-news articles on a wide range for topics including earth and planetary sciences and paleontology. In 1987 Kerr co-authored Rings: Discoveries from Galileo to Voyager, a detailed account of discoveries of planetary rings around Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus. In addition, Kerr has been interviewed on numerous television news programs, including a 2002 CNN report on global warming.

Kerr first joined Science in 1977, a week after successfully defending his Ph.D. dissertation in chemical oceanography at the University of Rhode Island. Prior to his doctoral work, Kerr received a B.A. degree in chemistry from the College of Wooster in Ohio.

In 1968, Kerr worked as a research chemist in the Ocean Sciences Division at the Naval Research Laboratory and served as an officer in the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. Ponchatoula from 1969 to 1972.

Kerr has received several other awards for his writing including the National Association of Geology Teachers James Shea Award (1994), the American Geophysical Union Award for Sustained Achievement in Science Journalism (1993) and the American Meteorological Society Special Award (1990).

Founded in 1888, the GSA is a not-for-profit scientific society dedicated to the advancement of the geosciences though meetings, publications, and programs. Based in Boulder, Colo., the organization has 20,000 members representing academia, government and industry in more than 85 countries.

The GSA Public Service Award was established in 1998 to recognize individuals whose contributions “have materially enhanced the public’s understanding of the earth sciences, or significantly served decision-makers in the application of scientific and technical information in public affairs and public policy.”

Benjamin Somers

14 August 2006