Jolyon Ralph receives Marsh Award for Mineralogy 2019
Last Updated: 13th Dec 2019By Roy Starkey
This year’s recipient of the Marsh Award for Mineralogy was none other than Mindat founder Jolyon Ralph.
I travelled down to London to join a group of well-wishers and supporters for the ceremony at the Natural History Museum.
The glorious NHM building was looking at its very best in bright winter sunshine with a backdrop of blue sky and fluffy white clouds. The ever-popular seasonal ice rink was doing a brisk trade in the foreground.
We had arranged to meet up in the Mineral Gallery and then go for lunch.
The Team in the Mineral Gallery – (L to R) Jane Randle, Richard Tayler, Gerald Lucy, Peter Nancarrow, Simon Kocher (partially obscured), Austin Woodbridge, Susan Tyzack and Ivor Thurgood, with Jolyon Ralph and Mike Rumsey of the NHM deep in discussion in the background.
The Team in the Mineral Gallery – (L to R) Jane Randle, Richard Tayler, Gerald Lucy, Simon Kocher, Susan Tyzack, Austin Woodbridge and Roy Starkey.
After a tasty lunch in the Museum café we headed over to the Earth Galleries to see the newly refurbished displays in Earth’s Treasury which Robin Hansen has been working on over the past year.
Gone is the horrible black plastic drain grid and wire gauze and the generally dreadful appearance. The new displays feature improved lighting, new labels, a plain black cloth base to the case and look very smart and pleasing to the eye. Well done Robin and team!
The group enjoying the refurbished displays in Earth’s Treasury (note Jolyon has neither a camera nor a mobile phone in his hand – could be a world first!).
A few more Russell specimens…
More of Sir Arthur’s collection
Next up a selection from the refurbished gemstone displays
Now it is time for us to gather in the Flett Theatre for the guest lecture and awards ceremony.
Martha Richter, Principal Curator in Charge, Vertebrates – welcomes us to the NHM and the Marsh Awards ceremony for 2019.
The guest lecturer this year was Professor Ian Crawford vice-president of the Royal Astronomical Society who gave a fascinating and thought provoking lecture on 'The Future Exploration of the Moon’.
Professor Sara Russell, Merit Researcher in Cosmic Mineralogy and planetary sciences of the NHM introducing Professor Ian Crawford http://www.bbk.ac.uk/geology/our-staff/ian-crawford
Dr Martha Richter introducing the winners of the Marsh Award for Best Earth Science Book 2019 https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030059149
Dr Dan Kelley https://www.dankelleygeology.com/about receiving the Marsh Award for Best Earth Science Book 2019 from Mr John Bennett
Hurrah – my train home from Euston is on time – for now at least!
About the Marsh Awards
The Palaeontology and Mineralogy awards recognise contributions made in the UK, which could include popular publications, websites, collecting and donation of natural history collections to museums, superb preparation or conservation of specimens in public collections, artistic or technical innovations.
The Best Earth Sciences Book of the Year award recognises the achievements of authors who have published outstanding scientific or academic books in the field of Earth Sciences in the UK or abroad.
Three awards are presented:
The Marsh Award for Palaeontology
The Marsh Award for Mineralogy
The Marsh Award for Best Earth Sciences Book of the Year
A certificate and £1,000 prize is awarded for each award.
See https://www.nhm.ac.uk/events/the-marsh-awards-for-palaeontology-mineralogy-earth-sciences-book.html
and
https://www.marshchristiantrust.org/partner/natural-history-museum/
for additional background information.
Congratulations Jolyon and many, many thanks from the thousands of users of Mindat worldwide.
Roy
PS It is not too early to start thinking about nominations for the Marsh Awards 2020 - get your thinking caps on!
I travelled down to London to join a group of well-wishers and supporters for the ceremony at the Natural History Museum.
The glorious NHM building was looking at its very best in bright winter sunshine with a backdrop of blue sky and fluffy white clouds. The ever-popular seasonal ice rink was doing a brisk trade in the foreground.
The Natural History Museum London
We had arranged to meet up in the Mineral Gallery and then go for lunch.
The Team in the Mineral Gallery at the NHM London
The Team in the Mineral Gallery – (L to R) Jane Randle, Richard Tayler, Gerald Lucy, Peter Nancarrow, Simon Kocher (partially obscured), Austin Woodbridge, Susan Tyzack and Ivor Thurgood, with Jolyon Ralph and Mike Rumsey of the NHM deep in discussion in the background.
The Team in the Mineral Gallery NHM London
The Team in the Mineral Gallery – (L to R) Jane Randle, Richard Tayler, Gerald Lucy, Simon Kocher, Susan Tyzack, Austin Woodbridge and Roy Starkey.
After a tasty lunch in the Museum café we headed over to the Earth Galleries to see the newly refurbished displays in Earth’s Treasury which Robin Hansen has been working on over the past year.
Gone is the horrible black plastic drain grid and wire gauze and the generally dreadful appearance. The new displays feature improved lighting, new labels, a plain black cloth base to the case and look very smart and pleasing to the eye. Well done Robin and team!
The group enjoying the refurbished displays in Earth’s Treasury
The group enjoying the refurbished displays in Earth’s Treasury (note Jolyon has neither a camera nor a mobile phone in his hand – could be a world first!).
F. N. Ashcroft display of Alpine minerals
Graphic panel with brief bio of F. N. Ashcroft in Earth's Treasury, NHM, London
Part of the display showing a small selection of specimens from the collection of Sir Arthur Russell (1878-1964) in Earth's Treasury, NHM, London
A few more Russell specimens…
Part of the display showing a small selection of specimens from the collection of Sir Arthur Russell (1878-1964), Earth's Treasury, NHM London
View along the newly refurbished cases in Earth's Treasury, NHM London
More of Sir Arthur’s collection
A selection of specimens from the collection of Sir Arthur Russell (1878-1964) in Earth's Treasury, NHM London
A simply superb specimen of Lanarkite acquired by Sir Arthur Russell from the Robert Ferguson of Raith Collection in Earth's Treasury, NHM London
Next up a selection from the refurbished gemstone displays
A beautiful display of gem tourmaline in Earth's Treasury, NHM London
The Charles R.Matthews and Arthur Herbert Church gem collections in Earth's Treasury, NHM London
Corundum makes beautiful gemstones! Display in Earth's Treasury, NHM London
Now it is time for us to gather in the Flett Theatre for the guest lecture and awards ceremony.
Waiting for things to start at the Marsh Awards presentation ceremony 2019
Martha Richter, Principal Curator in Charge, Vertebrates – welcomes us to the NHM and the Marsh Awards ceremony for 2019
Martha Richter, Principal Curator in Charge, Vertebrates – welcomes us to the NHM and the Marsh Awards ceremony for 2019.
The guest lecturer this year was Professor Ian Crawford vice-president of the Royal Astronomical Society who gave a fascinating and thought provoking lecture on 'The Future Exploration of the Moon’.
Professor Sara Russell, Merit Researcher in Cosmic Mineralogy and planetary sciences at the NHM introduces Professor Ian Crawford
Professor Sara Russell, Merit Researcher in Cosmic Mineralogy and planetary sciences of the NHM introducing Professor Ian Crawford http://www.bbk.ac.uk/geology/our-staff/ian-crawford
Professor Ian Crawford delivering his lecture on 'The Future Exploration of the Moon’
Professor Ian Crawford delivering his lecture on 'The Future Exploration of the Moon’ – The Moon as a Recorder of Astrophysical Events
Professor Ian Crawford delivering his lecture on 'The Future Exploration of the Moon’ – the need for expanded scientific infrastructure
Dr Martha Richter introducing Mr John Bennett who will be presenting the Marsh Awards
Mr John Bennett giving an overview of the Marsh Christian Trust and its activities
Mr John Bennett reviews previous winners of the Marsh Awards
Jolyon Ralph receiving the Marsh Award for Mineralogy 2019 from Mr John Bennett
Jolyon Ralph receiving the Marsh Award for Mineralogy 2019 from Mr John Bennett
Dr David Penney receiving the Marsh Award for Palaeontology for 2019 from Mr John Bennett
Dr Martha Richter introducing the winners of the Marsh Award for Best Earth Science Book 2019
Dr Martha Richter introducing the winners of the Marsh Award for Best Earth Science Book 2019 https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030059149
Dr Dan Kelley receiving the Marsh Award for Best Earth Science Book 2019 from Mr John Bennett
Dr Dan Kelley https://www.dankelleygeology.com/about receiving the Marsh Award for Best Earth Science Book 2019 from Mr John Bennett
Post-awards wine reception at the NHM London
Hurrah – my train home from Euston is on time – for now at least!
Hurrah – my train home from Euston is on time – for now at least!
About the Marsh Awards
The Palaeontology and Mineralogy awards recognise contributions made in the UK, which could include popular publications, websites, collecting and donation of natural history collections to museums, superb preparation or conservation of specimens in public collections, artistic or technical innovations.
The Best Earth Sciences Book of the Year award recognises the achievements of authors who have published outstanding scientific or academic books in the field of Earth Sciences in the UK or abroad.
Three awards are presented:
The Marsh Award for Palaeontology
The Marsh Award for Mineralogy
The Marsh Award for Best Earth Sciences Book of the Year
A certificate and £1,000 prize is awarded for each award.
See https://www.nhm.ac.uk/events/the-marsh-awards-for-palaeontology-mineralogy-earth-sciences-book.html
and
https://www.marshchristiantrust.org/partner/natural-history-museum/
for additional background information.
Congratulations Jolyon and many, many thanks from the thousands of users of Mindat worldwide.
Roy
PS It is not too early to start thinking about nominations for the Marsh Awards 2020 - get your thinking caps on!
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