USRA's Lisa Gaddis Receives Eugene Shoemaker Distinguished Scientist Medal Award
Columbia, MD and Houston, TX--July 19, 2022. USRA’s Dr. Lisa Gaddis, Director of the Lunar and Planetary Institute, is the recipient of the 2022 Eugene Shoemaker Distinguished Scientist Medal presented by NASA’s Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI). The award is given annually to a scientist who has significantly furthered the understanding of the Moon and other small bodies in our solar system. This is a lifetime achievement award for scientists whose contributions have been seminal.
Dr. Lisa Gaddis, Director, LPI
“We’re so proud and honored to have Dr. Lisa Gaddis as the recipient of this year’s Shoemaker Medal,” said Greg Schmidt, director of NASA SSERVI. “Her long history of scientific work and leadership in planetary science, her significant involvement in missions and her leadership within institutions serving this community all make her extremely qualified for this medal.”
The first Eugene Shoemaker Distinguished Scientist Medal was given posthumously to Eugene Shoemaker in 2009. The medal was presented to his wife and scientific collaborator, Carolyn Shoemaker.
“We are delighted to see NASA’s recognition of Lisa Gaddis’s contributions,” said Bernie Seery, USRA’s Senior Vice President, Science and Technology. He added that “Like Eugene Shoemaker, Lisa exudes technical competence and scientific leadership, but without any pretense. And so it is very befitting that she be recognized with the Shoemaker Award. “
As Director of the LPI, Dr. Gaddis provides scientific leadership and management of the research and operations at the LPI in support of NASA’s strategic goals in planetary science and solar system exploration. Prior to her appointment at the LPI, she was at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Astrogeology Science Center in Flagstaff, Arizona, where she worked since 1990 as a scientist, administrator, and supervisor. Both Gene and Carolyn Shoemaker were Lisa’s colleagues and friends at USGS, making it a very special honor for her to receive this award.
Dr. Gaddis brings broad scientific expertise spanning geology and geophysics, remote sensing, planetary science, space mission planning and operations, cartography, and data archiving. Her research interests include analyzing the composition, physical properties, and geologic history of planetary surfaces in our solar system, using remote sensing data at a variety of wavelengths.
A prolific author, she has published numerous papers in various scientific journals, several book chapters, and served on several committees and advisory groups for NASA on national and international space science and exploration plans. She is a Fellow of the Geological Society of America, and a recipient of the U.S. Department of the Interior Honor Award for Meritorious Service.
The award includes a framed certificate and a medal with the Shakespearian quote, “And he will make the face of heaven so fine, that all the world will be in love with night.”
The prize is presented along with invited lectures from the recipient at the annual NASA Exploration Science Forum at the University of Colorado Boulder in Colorado on July 19–21, 2022.
For more information, visit https://sservi.nasa.gov/awards/shoemaker.
https://sservi.nasa.gov/articles/2022-nasa-exploration-science-awards/
About USRA
Founded in 1969, under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences at the request of the U.S. Government, the Universities Space Research Association (USRA), is a nonprofit corporation chartered to advance space-related science, technology and engineering. USRA operates scientific institutes and facilities and conducts other major research and educational programs. USRA engages the university community and employs in-house scientific leadership, innovative research and development, and project management expertise. More information about USRA is available at www.usra.edu.
About LPI
The Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI), operated by Universities Space Research Association, was established during the Apollo program in 1968 to foster international collaboration and to serve as a repository for information gathered during the early years of the space program. Today, the LPI is an intellectual leader in lunar and planetary science. The Institute serves as a scientific forum attracting world-class visiting scientists, postdoctoral fellows, students, and resident experts; supports and serves the research community through newsletters, meetings, and other activities; collects and disseminates planetary data while facilitating the community’s access to NASA science; and engages, excites, and educates the public about space science and invests in the development of future generations of explorers. The research carried out at the LPI supports NASA’s efforts to explore the solar system. More information about LPI is available at www.lpi.usra.edu.