Reposted from the College of Science.
Marjorie Chan, distinguished professor emerita at the Department of Geology & Geophysics at the University of Utah, is the 2024 recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to the Public Understanding of the Geosciences award.
The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) presents the award to a person, organization or institution in recognition of outstanding contributions to the public understanding of geoscience.
“Dr. Chan has demonstrated extraordinary commitment to public outreach and community service throughout her career,” stated a press release issued by AGI. “Her earliest efforts focused on inspiring and supporting young women in the geosciences, and over the decades her concerns expanded to promoting public awareness of environmental issues and the urgent need to conserve geological resources.”
During an academic career of more than 40 years at the U, Chan has authored or co-authored more than 150 peer-reviewed articles on a range of sedimentary topics. Her work has spanned the Precambrian era, known as the age of early life, up to the more recent Pleistocene epoch, which covered Earth’s most recent ice age, with recent research that applied terrestrial examples to better understand the geology of Mars.
Chan, who retired in June, has given hundreds of public lectures, served as a volunteer consultant on scores of ecological and preservation projects as well as art collaborations, advised and created instructive material for secondary teachers and oversaw major Earth science community initiatives. The U has Chan to thank for coordinating the design and construction of the first LEED-certified building on the U’s academic campus. The Frederick Albert Sutton Building includes educational visual displays that have since inspired geoscience building designs across the nation.
“I am very honored to be recognized by AGI for a career that has been so engaging and fulfilling,” said Chan, who served as department chair. “Being a part of the Earth science community has been an experience beyond my expectations. I’ve learned from so many wonderful people and made connections across cultures and countries that I will never forget. This has inspired me to share my passion for Earth science with the public.”
That passion for sharing has led to Chan’s being featured in documentaries including National Geographic and Discovery Channel television shows. Additionally, she has been a guest on National Public Radio’s Science Friday and has served as a science advisor for PBS-Nova Science Now. Her NASA science and outreach activities include Endeavor 2016 Dynamic Mars Webinars for K-12 teachers, Mars for Earthlings webinars and short courses and development of teaching modules for higher education instructors.
Chan earned a doctorate in geology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1982 and a Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of California-Davis in 1977 and joined the U faculty in 1982. When it comes to outreach Chan knows that public engagement is often an afterthought or less valued than research and teaching.
“I feel that spreading our knowledge more widely is a core principle of scholarship,” she said. “Our societal future relies on public understanding of the complexities in the natural world.”
Chan will be recognized for the award at the Friends of AGI Awards Reception during the GSA Connects conference in Anaheim, California, on Sept. 24.