The Mary Clark Thompson Medal is awarded by the U.S.

National Academy of Sciences The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a United States nonprofit, NGO, non-governmental organization. NAS is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, along with the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and the ...

"for most important service to

geology Geology (). is a branch of natural science concerned with the Earth and other astronomical objects, the rocks of which they are composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology significantly overlaps all other Earth ...

and

paleontology Paleontology, also spelled as palaeontology or palæontology, is the scientific study of the life of the past, mainly but not exclusively through the study of fossils. Paleontologists use fossils as a means to classify organisms, measure ge ...

." Named after

Mary Clark Thompson Mary Clark Thompson (1835 – July 28, 1923), born Mary Lee Clark, was a philanthropist and wife of banker Frederick Ferris Thompson. Early years Mary Lee Clark was born in Naples, New York, in 1835 to Myron Holley Clark (1806–1892) and Zilpha ...

and first awarded in 1921, it was originally presented every three years together with a $15,000 prize. From 2017 the medal will be awarded alternately with the Daniel Giraud Elliot Medal as the triennial NAS Award in the Evolution of Earth and Life. The Elliot Medal will recognise meritorious work in zoology or paleontology whilst the Mary Clark Thompson Medal will continue to honour important services to geology and paleontology. Each medal will be presented with a $20,000 prize.

Recipients

Source
NAS
Shuhai Xiao (2021) Susan M. Kidwell (2015) For her groundbreaking work on fossil preservation that has transformed our view of how the history of life is encoded in the rock record. Her studies have revealed the fidelity of the fossil record, and thereby have yielded powerful insights to the evolution and ecology of ancient life on Earth. Andrew H. Knoll (2012) For unparalleled contributions relating Precambrian life to Earth's physical and chemical history and for innovative contributions on the paleophysiology and evolution of algae and land plants. Alfred G. Fischer (2009) For leadership and research in the discovery of the cyclical and period nature of the sedimentary record in the geologic past and its connections with earth-system change, including biodiversity.

Steven M. Stanley Steven M. Stanley (born November 2, 1941) is an American paleontologist and evolutionary biologist at the Florida State University. He is best known for his empirical research documenting the evolutionary process of punctuated equilibrium in the fo ...

(2006) For research and leadership in bivalve functional morphology and the macroevolution of disparate animals, including hominids, in the context of Earth's physical and chemical history. Frederik J. Hilgen (2003) For his meticulous integration of various geological, geophysical, and proxy cyclostratigraphic sedimentological records in developing a late Neogene (12-0Ma) astronomical time scale. Jan Smit (1999) For establishing the sequence of impact-generated events that occurred 65 million years ago, including ejecta fallout, tsunami propagation, geochemical disturbances, and extinction in foraminifera and dinosaurs. David L. Jones (1995) For his development of terrane-tectonic theory through geologic mapping of westernmost North America and the biostratigraphic study of radiolarians in deepwater chert.

Harry B. Whittington Harry Blackmore Whittington FRS (24 March 1916 – 20 June 2010) was a British palaeontologist who made a major contribution to the study of fossils of the Burgess Shale and other Cambrian fauna. His works are largely responsible for the con ...

(1990) J. William Schopf (1986) W. A. Berggren (1982)

James M. Schopf James may refer to: People * James (given name) * James (surname) * James (musician), aka Faruq Mahfuz Anam James, (born 1964), Bollywood musician * James, brother of Jesus * King James (disambiguation), various kings named James * Prince James ...

(1976) Hollis D. Hedberg (1973) Raymond C. Moore (1970) Wendell P. Woodring (1967) Milton N. Bramlette (1964)

Norman D. Newell Norman Dennis Newell (January 27, 1909 – April 18, 2005) was a professor of geology at Columbia University, and chairman and curator of invertebrate paleontology at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Early life and educati ...

(1961)

Roman Kozłowski Roman Stanisław Jakub Kozłowski (1 February 1889 – 2 May 1977) was a Polish palaeontologist, best known for his work on graptolites. Kozłowski was born in Włocławek, north-west of Warsaw, on 1 February 1889. He studied at universities in Sw ...

(1958) G. Arthur Cooper (1957) Alfred S. Romer (1954) Lloyd W. Stephenson (1952)

Lauge Koch Lauge Koch (5 July 1892 – 5 June 1964) was a Danish geologist and Arctic explorer. Biography Lauge Koch was born in 1892 to Karl and Elisabeth Koch. His development as a scientist was greatly influenced by his father's second cousin Johan Peter ...

(1949) Frank H. McLearn (1948) John Bernard Reeside, Jr. (1946) Thomas W. Vaughan (1945)

William Joscelyn Arkell William Joscelyn Arkell FGS, FRS (9 June 1904 – 18 April 1958) was a British geologist and palaeontologist, regarded as the leading authority on the Jurassic Period during the middle part of the 20th century. Childhood Arkell was born in ...

(1944) George G. Simpson (1943) Edward W. Berry and Arthur S. Woodward (1942) David M. Watson (1941)

Amadeus William Grabau Amadeus William Grabau (January 9, 1870 – March 20, 1946) was an American geologist, teacher, stratigrapher, paleontologist, and author who worked in the United States and China. Biography Grabau's grandfather, J.A.A. Grabau, led a group of ...

(1936)

Charles Schuchert Charles Schuchert (July 3, 1858 – November 20, 1942) was an American invertebrate paleontologist who was a leader in the development of paleogeography, the study of the distribution of lands and seas in the geological past. Biography He was ...

(1934) Francis A. Bather (1932) David L. White (1931)

William Berryman Scott William Berryman Scott (February 12, 1858 – March 29, 1947) was an American vertebrate paleontologist, authority on mammals, and principal author of the White River Oligocene monographs. He was a professor of geology and paleontology at Pr ...

and

Edward Oscar Ulrich Edward Oscar Ulrich (1 February 1857, in Covington, Kentucky – 22 February 1944, in Washington, D.C.) was an invertebrate paleontologist specializing in the study of Paleozoic fossils. Biography Ulrich was educated at Wallace College and the Oh ...

(1930) James P. Smith (1928) John M. Clarke (1925)

Emmanuel de Margerie Emmanuel Marie Pierre Martin Jacquin de Margerie ForMemRS (11 November 1862 – 20 December 1953) was a French geographer after whom the Margerie Glacier was named, which he visited in 1913. Early life and family He is the son of French cathol ...

(1923)

Charles Doolittle Walcott Charles Doolittle Walcott (March 31, 1850February 9, 1927) was an American paleontologist, administrator of the Smithsonian Institution from 1907 to 1927, and director of the United States Geological Survey. He is famous for his discovery in 19 ...

(1921)

Recipients

References

See also