Northwestern creates $200,000 Nemmers prize in Earth Sciences

EVANSTON - Northwestern University has created a $200,000 Nemmers Prize in Earth Sciences, the University announced today. The inaugural prize will be awarded in 2018 and every other year thereafter.

The prestigious prize is the fifth Nemmers Prize established by Northwestern. The others are in the fields of economics, mathematics, music composition and medical science.

Candidacy for the 2018 Nemmers Prize in Earth Sciences is open to individuals who have made major contributions to new knowledge or the development of significant new modes of analysis and whose work is of lasting significance in Earth sciences.

“We live in a time when fundamental Earth processes, such as earthquakes and climate change, have major impacts on increasing numbers of people around the world,” said Professor Bradley B. Sageman, chair of Northwestern’s department of Earth and planetary sciences in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. 

“Our department is deeply appreciative that our field of study has been added to the family of Nemmers Prizes, and we look forward to honoring and interacting with leading Earth scientists who have made transformative contributions to understanding our planet,” he said.

The 2018 recipient of the new Nemmers Prize will spend a significant amount of time on Northwestern’s campus interacting with faculty and students. These events will be arranged by the Earth and planetary sciences department.

The Nemmers Prize in Earth Sciences is made possible by a generous gift to Northwestern by the late Erwin Esser Nemmers and the late Frederic Esser Nemmers.

“I am extremely pleased that the growth of the Nemmers endowment allows us to add a fifth prize,” Northwestern Provost Daniel Linzer said. “By recognizing outstanding individuals conducting research in the Earth sciences, we are also recognizing Northwestern’s commitment to this essential field and the importance of this work for the sustainability of the Earth.”

The gift also funds the Erwin Plein Nemmers Prize in Economics, the Frederic Esser Nemmers Prize in Mathematics, the Michael Ludwig Nemmers Prize in Music Composition and the Mechthild Esser Nemmers Prize in Medical Science. All of the prizes are awarded every other year.

A solicitation for nominations for the Nemmers Prize in Earth Sciences will be announced in the winter quarter. The selection process will be overseen by the Office of the Provost in partnership with the department of Earth and planetary sciences.

Individuals of all nationalities and institutional affiliations are eligible, except current or recent members of the Northwestern University faculty and recipients of the Nobel Prize.

Read more about all the Nemmers Prizes online.