Carnegie Museum of Natural History (CMNH) is pleased to announce Robert T. Downs as winner of the 2023 Carnegie Mineralogical Award. The award honors outstanding contributions in mineralogical preservation, conservation, and education.
Robert T. Downs is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Geosciences at The University of Arizona. Over the course of his career, he has taught thousands of students, published more than 300 peer-reviewed papers, and co-authored three books.
“In his long career, Bob has influenced countless students and people from all walks of life through his lectures and publications, and as one of his supporters best put it, his influence on the mineralogy community is unique, lasting and profound. Congratulations, Bob,“ said Travis Olds, Assistant Curator of Minerals at Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
Among his many achievements, Downs developed and continues to curate the RRUFF mineralogical database, one of the most widely used open-access mineral databases in the world, which has fundamentally changed how mineralogical data is kept and shared. The Raman spectra, X-ray diffraction, and chemistry data within RRUFF help mineral researchers identify specimens on Earth and beyond. Downs was a principal investigator on the Mars rover Curiosity, part of the Mars Science Laboratory mission. In 2023, he was second author on a paper in JGR Planets that summarizes a survey of 161 probable or confirmed Martian minerals and suggests that mineral diversity on Mars is an order of magnitude less than on Earth.
Downs also prioritized making mineral education accessible to the public. He led the development of the popular, new University of Arizona Alfie Norville Gem & Mineral Museum in Tucson.
“I found that the beauty of minerals was rivaled by the beauty of the math that described their crystal structures and the bonding of their atoms,” said Downs. “I am so thankful for a life in mineralogy that provided me the excitement of discovery and feel honored to receive the award.”
Olds presented the award to Downs on February 10, 2024, at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show.
Carnegie Museum of Natural History established the Carnegie Mineralogical Award, funded by the Hillman Foundation, in 1987.
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2024 Carnegie Mineralogical Award, and the deadline is November 15, 2024. Eligible candidates include educators, private mineral enthusiasts and collectors, curators, museums, mineral clubs and societies, mineral symposiums, universities, and publications. For information, contact Travis Olds, Assistant Curator, Section of Minerals & Earth Sciences, at 412-622-6568 or oldst@carnegiemnh.org.
Past recipients include:
2022 Willliam B. “Skip” Simmons, Jr.
2021 Barbara Lee Dutrow, PhD.
2020 John C. Medici, PhD.
2019 John F. Rakovan, PhD.
2018 Dudley P. Blauwet
2017 W. Lesley Presmyk
2016 Anthony R. Kampf, PhD.
2015 George Harlow, PhD.
2014 Bryon N. Brookmyer
2013 Gloria A. Staebler
2012 George W. Robinson, PhD.
2011 Jeffrey E. Post, PhD.
2010 The Rochester Mineralogical Symposium
2009 Peter K.M. Megaw, PhD.
2008 Frank C. Hawthorne, PhD.
2007 Jeffrey A. Scovil
2006 Richard C. Whiteman
2005 June Culp Zeitner
2004 Joel A. Bartsch, PhD.
2003 Eugene S. Meieran, Sc.D.
2002 Terry C. Wallace, Jr., PhD.
2001 Wendell E. Wilson, PhD.
2000 F. John Barlow, Sc.D. (honorary)
1999 Sterling Hill Mining Museum
1998 Robert W. Jones
1997 Bryan K. Lees
1996 Cornelis (Kase) Klein, PhD.
1995 Marie E. Huizing
1994 The Mineralogical Record
1993 Cornelius S. Hurlbut, Jr., PhD.
1992 Carl A. Francis, PhD.
1991 Miguel A. Romero Sanchez, PhD.
1990 Paul E. Desautels
1989 Frederick H. Pough, PhD.
1988 John Sinkankas, DHL. (honorary)
1987 The Tucson Gem & Mineral Society
