CU RESEARCHER RECEIVES THE PRESTIGIOUS IUGS AWARD
Bratislava, 25 September, 2022: Associate Professor Michal Šujan from the Faculty of Natural Sciences of Comenius University Bratislava (CU FNS) received the award at the 37th International Geological Congress that took place on 25-31 August in Busan, Korea. The prestigious IUGS Early Career Scientist Medal honours his excellent results in the application of cosmogenic nuclides in geochronology and sedimentological research.
Michal Šujan works at the Department of Geology and Palaeontology of the CU FNS and is a renowned European expert on rock sedimentation processes and the use of cosmogenic nuclides for dating in geology (geochronology). Cosmogenic nuclides are isotopes of elements like beryllium or aluminium, which arise through nuclear reactions in rocks and in the atmosphere, as a result of interaction of particles with cosmic radiation.
The award-winning geologist leads a team of 24 researchers and students, which is the worldwide leader in authigenic 10Be/9Be dating, and collaborates with experts across Europe. The authigenic phase analysed in this dating method consists of a layer of minerals precipitated on the surface of sediment grains when they are transported by water flowing in a river. This new method makes it possible to determine the date of deposition of the ubiquitous clay sediments, something that could not be done before. Michal Šujan established a lab at CU to process samples of cosmogenic nuclides.
"I am very grateful to all my mentors who guided me on this journey, mainly Professor Michal Kováč from Bratislava and Dr. Régis Braucher from Aix-en-Provence in France. The research I did would not be possible without the team of my CU colleagues who taught and supported me. This award is a significant recognition of their work and they have a share in it," said the researcher Michal Šujan.
The nomination for the award was presented to the IUGS executive by the National Geological Committee of the Slovak Republic, which is currently led by the Vice-Dean of the FNS Marianna Kováčová. "In sports terminology, the award given to Assistant Professor Šujan can easily be compared to an Olympic gold medal in one of the team sports. It is a huge success and a confirmation of the high quality of geoscience education at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of Comenius University, and of the international impact of the laureate's research," added Associate Professor Kováčová.
The International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGs) was founded in 1961 in Paris and is one of the largest and most active non-governmental scientific organizations in the world. IUGS promotes the study of global geological issues and facilitates international and interdisciplinary collaboration among geoscientists.
The IUGS Early Career Scientist Medal is an award given by the union once every four years to a young researcher who has achieved exceptional results in original geology research. The laureate is chosen by the IUGS Executive Committee which includes representatives of national geology organizations from 121 countries, among them the Slovak Republic, and represents over a million geoscientists.