McNutt
Dr. Marcia McNutt, president of the National Academy of Sciences and chair of the National Research Council, has been selected as the 2017 Desert Research Institute’s Nevada Medalist. She will be honored during an award dinner and Science Expo Sept. 25.
The award was established in 1988 to acknowledge outstanding achievement in the fields of science and engineering. The DRI Nevada Medal is the highest scientific honor in the state. The 30th DRI Nevada Medal award will be presented by the DRI Foundation during events planned in both Reno and Las Vegas.
A distinguished geophysicist, Dr. McNutt’s research focuses on marine geophysics, where she has published more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific articles and helped develop a variety of remote sensing techniques to understand the origin of clusters of volcanoes in the middle of tectonic plates. From 2013 to 2016, she served as editor-in-chief of the Science family of journals, prior to which she served as director of the U.S. Geological Survey from 2009 to 2013, during which time USGS responded to a number of major disasters, including the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. “I am grateful for the recognition of the Nevada Medal not just for all that it means to me personally, but also because it validates the concept that one can forego one’s own personal research career and still have impact through leadership and service to science and the nation,” Dr. McNutt said in a written statement. The DRI's 30th Annual Nevada Medal Dinner in Reno will take place Monday, Sept. 25 from 5:30-8 p.m. at the Peppermill Resort Spa & Casino. During the cocktail hour from 5:30-6:20 p.m., guests will have a chance to tour the current research projects at the DRI Science Expo. The dinner and award presentation will take place from 6:30-9 p.m. during which time Dr. McNutt will give a special presentation. Individual ticket to the awards event are $350 per person. Tickets can be purchased here. For additional information, contact DRI Events Coordinator Dawn Coots at 775-674-7555 or e-mail: Dawn.Coots@dri.edu.