2008 - Charles PREWITT

Charles Prewitt was the inaugural recipient of the IMA Medal for Excellence, in recognition of his research eminence in developing a wide variety of new fields in crystal chemistry, material sciences and mineral physics. In crystallography he was one of the pioneers in the use of the single-crystal diffractometer, creating computer programs to handle diffraction data and more recently in his use of synchrotron radiation for solving problems in mineral physics. In experimental techniques he was in the forefront of developing new methods in high-temperature and high-pressure mineral synthesis. Charles Prewitt has not only produced an enormous number of extraordinary publications of his own but he is responsible for directing much larger research projects on an international basis.