The first International Mineralogical Society (IMA) medal will be awarded to Charles T. Prewitt, Director Emeritus, in recognition of his invaluable lifelong contribution to mineral sciences, according to Takamitsu Yamanaka, IMA president and currently senior visiting scientist at GL, The award ceremony will be held at the next Goldschmidt Conference in Switzerland in 2009.

Charlie's research interests include the characterization of minerals, analogs, and new materials. His research on silicates and oxide materials, specifically, his development of principles of ionic radii in these materials, has been highly influential in the earth and material sciences over the past 40 years. Charlie was director at GL in 1986–1999.