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RAPID CITY, S.D. (Nov. 14, 2012) – Past recipients of the prestigious Mines Medal award continue to be recognized as groundbreakers in their areas of expertise.
Steven Squyres, 2010 Mines Medalist, is currently featured by Time magazine as one of the “25 Most Influential People in Space” in a special publication being sold on newsstands. Time New Space Discoveries will be displayed until Dec. 14.
The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology founded the national Mines Medal award in 2009 to recognize scientists and engineers who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovation, and to ensure the United States’ global preeminence in engineering and science.
Squyres, a Cornell University astronomer, is principal scientist for NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover missions. More than 100,000 full-color images of the Martian landscape and analyses of rocks and soil surfaces have been transmitted back to Earth as a result of Squyres’ research.
In addition to Squyres, previous Medalists include Dr. Diana Wall, 2012 recipient and University Distinguished Professor and director of the School of Global Environmental Sustainability at Colorado State University; Dr. Lee Rybeck Lynd, 2011 recipient and professor of engineering and adjunct professor of biology and earth science at Dartmouth College; and Dr. Cindy Van Dover, 2009 recipient and chair and professor of Duke University’s Division of Marine Sciences and Conservation and director of the Duke University Marine Laboratory.