Application Deadline Friday, March 6, 2026
Award Description
The George. W. Brindley Clay Science Lecture Award of The Clay Minerals Society recognizes a clay scientist who will infuse the Society with new ideas, someone who is both a dynamic speaker and involved in innovative research. Dr. Brindley himself approved the concept of the Lecture, and the speaker should deliver a lecture that Brindley himself would applaud.
Additionally, the Brindley lecturer is expected to prepare a public lecture, which can be delivered in person atvarious institutions and/or in a virtual format. It may also be prepared as a video to be posted online, such as on the CMS Youtube channel, which should be adapted for a large audience. The subject is at the discretion of the Brindley Lecturer; its content should be crafted in a way to reach a broad range of scientific interests, possibly beyond Clay Science. For assistance, the awardee may call on members of the committees on Program Development and/or Electronic Communications.
Nomination Guidelines
Nomination packages should follow a standardized format as described below to ensure fair comparisons among nominees. The nomination shall consist of a nominating letter from a member in good standing of The Clay Minerals Society, the resume of the nominee, and two supporting letters solicited by the nominator. That information shall focus on the following criteria:
- Evidence for how the nominee has infused new ideas and innovative research into clay science.
- Discussion and examples of what the nominee has done to demonstrate qualities as a dynamic speaker.
Nominating materials must be received by the Awards Committee Chair by e-mail no later than Friday, March 6, 2026.
Submit the nomination package to:
Professor Joseph W. Stucki
Awards Committee Chair
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 217-333-9636
Selection
The Awardee will be selected by the CMS Awards Committee and approved by the CMS Council. The decision of the Council will be announced at the Annual Conference of that year. At the discretion of the CMS Awards Committee, an unsuccessful candidate for the Award may be renominated the next year. A nominee will only be considered for three consecutive years, unless an extension is granted by the Awards Committee.
Expectations
The Award will be presented the following year at the Annual Conference of The Clay Minerals Society, at which the Awardee is expected to present a plenary lecture on the subject for which he/she is being recognized. The recipient is invited and strongly encouraged to publish a manuscript in Clays and Clay Minerals based on this lecture. The Brindley Lecturer should also seek opportunities to present in other venues a public talk designed to broaden and advance ideas in clay science.
Award Amount
The CMS will pay an honorarium of $2000 and the Annual Conference registration will be waived as specified in the Award letter sent by the President of CMS. An additional $3000 will be available to assist the Awardee in delivering the public lecture in other venues and/or in producing a high-quality video-recorded lecture available for distribution by the CMS and the Awardee. An additional $1000 will be awarded upon acceptance after peer review of the invited manuscript in Clays and Clay Minerals.
Current Recipient
Awardee: Dr. Prakash Malla
Presented: The CMS 2024 Annual Meeting, Honolulu, Hawaii
Affiliation: Retired (Thiele Kaolin Company)
Lecture Title: “Transition from Expandable to Non-Expandable Clays via Nanoporous Materials”
Past Recipients
1984 – Walter Keller
1985 – J. J. Fripiat
1986 – Ralph E. Grim
1987 – S. W. Bailey
1988 – M. L. Jackson
1989 – W. D. Johns
1990 – Alain Baronnet
1991 – Thomas J. Pinnavaia
1992 – Philip Low
1993 – Dennis D. Eberl
1994 – R. C. Reynolds, Jr.
1995 – Gerhard Lagaly
1996 – Samuel M. Savin
1997 – Paul H. Nadeau
1998 – Bruce Velde
1999 – Richard Eggleton
2000 – D. M. Moore
2001 – Robert Schoonheydt
2002 – David L. Bish
2003 – Alain Manceau
2005 – Maria F. Brigatti
2008 – Robert Gilkes
2009 – M. F. Hochella Jr
2010 – Randall T. Cygan
2013 – Andrey Kalinichev
2017 – Sridhar Komarneni
2018 – Cliff T. Johnston
2019 – Bruno Lanson
2020 – No Award Made
2021 – No award Made
2022 – Lynda B. Williams
2023 – No Award Made
2024 – Prakash B. Malla
2025 – No Award Made