Department of Geology and Geophysics
1000 E. University Ave.
Laramie, WY 82071-2000
Phone: 307-766-3386
Fax: 307-766-6679
Email: geol-geophys@uwyo.edu
Assistant Professor Kimberly Lau has been named the 2019 recipient of the Geological
Society of America’s (GSA) Doris M. Curtis Outstanding Woman in Science Award.
The accolade was created to recognize women who have impacted geosciences in a major
way based on their doctoral research, and it is given in memory of a pioneer in the
field. Lau was presented with the award at GSA’s annual meeting Sept. 22 in Phoenix,
Ariz.
Lau is an assistant professor at UW after joining the Department of Geology and Geophysics
last fall as part of a $20 million grant from the National Science Foundation. She
specializes in biogeochemistry, and her research focuses on investigating the causes
of environmental changes in Earth’s history.
“I am very grateful and honored to receive the Doris Curtis Outstanding Woman in Science
Award,” Lau says. “I have been lucky to have had very supportive and encouraging mentors
and collaborators, in the spirit of GSA and the namesake of this award. Using the
rock record to understand how and, more importantly, why our planet’s environments
have evolved through time is very exciting to me, and I hope I can continue pursuing
these research questions at the University of Wyoming.”
Lau is interested in the links between the biogeochemical cycles of oxygen, carbon
and redox-sensitive elements. Using geochemical clues in marine sediment, she reconstructs
past environmental conditions. In addition to her teaching load, she hopes to expand
her research opportunities in this region.
Lau previously completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California-Riverside,
after receiving her Ph.D. from Stanford University and her bachelor’s degree from
Yale University. She was nominated for the GSA award by Jonathan Payne, a professor
of geological sciences at Stanford.
“Kim is a brilliant young scientist on a fantastic trajectory,” he says. “She has
an exceptional eye for important problems and potential solutions. In addition to
her meteoric rise as a researcher, Kim is a stellar teacher and mentor. She is a great
credit to GSA and to the scientific enterprise more broadly.”
Curtis became GSA’s 103rd president in 1991, and her popularity was widespread. She
pioneered many new directions for geology, not the least of which was her tenure as
the first female GSA president after an unbroken chain of 102 men. Causes dear to
Curtis were women, public awareness, minorities and education.
GSA is a scientific society with members from academia, government and industry in
more than 100 countries. Through its meetings, publications and programs, GSA enhances
the professional growth of its members and promotes the geosciences in the service
of humankind. GSA encourages cooperative research among earth, life, planetary and
social scientists; fosters public dialogue on geoscience issues; and supports all
levels of earth science education.
For more information about GSA, visit www.geosociety.org/gsa.
Department of Geology and Geophysics
1000 E. University Ave.
Laramie, WY 82071-2000
Phone: 307-766-3386
Fax: 307-766-6679
Email: geol-geophys@uwyo.edu