The winners of the 2024 iCRAG Awards have been announced at the annual iCRAG Summit.
The awards recognise the achievements, impacts, and contributions to iCRAG that our members have made in the preceding 12 months, and celebrate achievement across research, impact, EPE, industry, mentoring career development and EDI.
The award winners are:
Research Paper of the Year
The Research Paper of the Year Award is given in recognition of a paper that has demonstrated scientific excellence and research impact.
Joint recipients:
- Dr Erica Krueger et al: Wanted Dead or Alive: Skeletal Structure Alteration of Cold-Water Coral Desmophyllum pertusum (Lophelia pertusa) from Anthropogenic Stressors.
Speaking on receipt of the award, Dr Krueger said:
“I am honoured to receive the Research Excellence Award, and I couldn’t have accomplished this without the help of my collaborators. This paper not only demonstrates the need for continued research on cold-water corals in the current changing climate, but the importance of interdisciplinary research to develop novel approaches in the laboratory and reach a wider scientific audience.”
- Dr Simon Jones et al: Fluid Flow, Alteration, and Timing of Cu-Ag Mineralization at the White Pine Sediment-Hosted Copper Deposit, Michigan, USA
Speaking on receipt of the award, Dr Jones said: “It is fascinating to unravel the fundamental, or geological, controls on the world's largest mineral deposits. Working on such a classic ore deposit as White Pine was enjoyable and a privilege. I am delighted to receive recognition for the work of my co-authors and I.”
Honourable mention:
Dr Tom Manzocchi et al: Compression-based Facies Modelling
“I'm delighted to see this paper recognised, and I appreciate the space within iCRAG - an applied research centre - also for generic and conceptual research such as this. The paper is a synthesis of projects by my co-authors – Deirdre Walsh, Marcus Carneiro and Javier Lopez Cabrera – developing a mathematical and algorithmic framework for understanding and modelling connectivity in geological systems. I anticipate that the methods we have developed will have many future applications, but the heart of the paper is fundamental: turning what is generally thought of as a qualitative geological property into a truly quantitative one.”
EDI Leader Award
The EDI Leader Award is given to an individual that has taken exceptional steps to drive equity, diversity and inclusion, and has shown qualities that encouraged and inspired others.
Recipient: Dr Claire Harnett
Claire has been a driving force for EDI in the UCD School of Earth science. Claire has also been a huge support for the UCD Operations team with UCD EDI Accelerator Fund and CoS EDI Seed Funding applications.
Speaking on receipt of the award, Dr Harnett said: “I'm really passionate about making the Earth Sciences an inclusive and diverse community where people can flourish. I'm honoured to receive this award, and hope that we can continue striding forward in our EDI work."
Education and Public Engagement Award
The Education and Public Engagement Award is awarded to an individual that has shown dedication to education and public engagement, an ability to engage deeply with their target audience, and through EPE has delivered societal impact.
Recipient: Dr Erica Krueger
Erica received this award for her dedication to EPE activities over the course of the year, logging over 10 events in the process. Through events such as the National Ploughing Championships and Féile na Bealtaine Erica shared her vast knowledge with a public audience. Erica also participated in ‘10 Things to Know About’, a scientific documentary series which is set to be broadcast on national television in December.
Speaking on receipt of the award, Erica said: I am so delighted to receive the Education and Public Engagement Award, and I thank iCRAG for the many opportunities provided to engage with and educate the public. As researchers, it is imperative that we inform and educate the public on the importance of our research in a way that they understand it and feel part of it, further building positive and trusting relationships with people outside of the scientific community.”
Future Leader Award: Postdoctoral researcher
The Future Leader Award: Postdoctoral researcher is awarded to a post-doctoral researcher that has demonstrated excellence in research and associated activities.
Recipient: Dr Pablo Rodriguez Salgado
Pablo’s vast knowledge of the Irish shore make him an integral part of future research on the Celtic sea subsurface. In last year or so he's started working also on geothermal projects, where his skills will also prove invaluable. He has the potential to become central to important applied sustainable Irish geoenergy research
Speaking on receipt of the award, Pablo said: “"I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition and would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all my colleagues at iCRAG. The inclusive and multidisciplinary environment at iCRAG has been instrumental in supporting my career development and fostering innovative research ideas. I look forward to contributing further to sustainable energy research and inspiring future generations through our collective efforts."
Future Leader Award: Postgraduate
The Future Leader Award: Postgraduate is awarded to a PhD or MSc researcher that has demonstrated excellence in research and associated activities.
Recipient: Malena Cazorla Martinez
Over the course of the year Malena and shown excellent leadership skills whether thats by inspiring secondary school students through a career talk or co chairing the EDI committee alongside Marcos, Malena's own personal ambition has extended to her ambition to make iCRAG a better place. She has shown herself to be an excellent team player and communicator. She has also demonstrated her creativity and array of skills through her participation in the 'Writing the Earth' project.
Speaking on receipt of the award, Malena said: “"I want to thank everyone who nominated me, as well as my supervisors Dr. Lingli Zhou and Prof. Murray Hitzman for aiding me to further develop my skills as a researcher everyday. It is a huge pleasure to be surrounded by hard working researchers and OPS team members in iCRAG, who give us plenty of opportunities to develop ourselves as professionals, gain soft and hard skills, and become (hopefully!) future leaders"
iCRAG Impact Award
The iCRAG Impact Award is awarded to a researcher(s) whose work has made a demonstrable impact on society, policy, economy, businesses, environment, and/or international engagement.
Recipients: Dr Jean O’Dwyer
Dr. O'Dwyer's contributions have had a profound impact on public health and the environment, exemplifying the type of work the Impact Award seeks to recognize. Her research has not only advanced academic knowledge but also provided practical solutions to real-world problems, influencing public health strategies and environmental conservation efforts in meaningful ways.
iCRAG Industry and Entrepreneurship Award
The iCRAG Industry and Entrepreneurship Award recognises dedication to industry collaboration and entrepreneurship.
Recipient: Dr Quentin Crowley
Dr. Crowley's innovative work on the safe and sustainable supply of building materials bridges academic research with industry applications. His recent project uses state-of-the-art drone technology and geospatial analysis to create high-resolution models of Irish quarries, providing essential data on natural radiation levels to ensure public health and safety
Speaking on receipt of the award, Qeuntin said: Research, innovation and entrepreneurship are at the core of what I do at Trinity College Dublin, and in the company I founded, Geochron Ltd. I am committed to apply my research to solve societal challenges, and to recognise the business opportunities in doing so. It is both my pleasure and honour to accept the iCRAG Industry and Entrepreneurship Award.
iCRAG Mentoring Award
The iCRAG Mentoring Award recognises mentoring skills and achievements.
Recipient: Rachel Healy
Rachel has been an incredible support and compassionate mentor to newer researchers starting off in iCRAG. She has also been an encouragement and mentor to fellow researchers to voice their opinions.
Speaking on receipt of the award, Rachel said: I wish to sincerely thank those who have nominated me for this award. Receiving this award for mentorship is deeply meaningful, and I am honoured to have been recognized. I am also grateful to be part of iCRAG, which values these skills and fosters a collaborative environment that makes such mentorship possible.
iCRAG Image of Research Award
The iCRAG Image of Research Award celebrates images captured by iCRAG researchers during the course of their work.
Recipient: Dr Claire Geel, iCRAG at UCD for image entitled: VMS Stockwork from Portuguese Iberian Pyrite Belt
Speaking on receipt of the award, Claire said: I am delighted that others found this photo as beautiful as I did. At iCRAG my research focuses on the exploration of critical raw materials, investigating geochemical vectors toward mineralization in Irish-type and VMS ore deposits. As geologists, we are fortunate to observe the beauty of these raw minerals in their natural form while understanding the essential role they play in global development.
Image description:
This photomicrograph captures a volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) system from the world-famous Iberian Pyrite Belt. These mineral deposits are an important source of Zinc, Lead, Copper, Gold and Silver. The stockwork vein system, displaying butter-yellow chalcopyrite, grey sphalerite and cool-yellow pyrite, originates from an actively mined zinc-copper-lead (Zn-Cu-Pb) deposit in southwest Portugal.
