Hutton Medal – for excellence in earth sciences: awarded by the Royal Society of New Zealand to Professor Colin James Ness Wilson FRSNZ of Victoria University of Wellington
Citation: Awarded to Professor Colin James Ness Wilson FRSNZ for his outstanding work on New Zealand volcanism. Description of work: The Hutton Medal for earth sciences was awarded to Professor Colin Wilson FRSNZ from Victoria University of Wellington for his outstanding work on volcanism. Professor Wilson’s research aims to better understand the effects of volcanic activity so that adequate warnings of impending eruptions can be given. Currently based in Wellington, his work ultimately aims to minimise the potentially devastating effects of eruptions. Since viewing these events first-hand is obviously not an option, Wilson looks at what’s been left behind—analysing products like pumice and ash. He describes his work as “a kind of forensic science applied to sleeping or dead volcanoes rather than dead people, you might say it’s like CSI: Taupo”. His research is carried out in New Zealand, at volcanoes in Taupo, and overseas on supervolcanoes in Alaska, California and Yellowstone. He is recognised as one of New Zealand’s most highly-regarded earth scientists and is known as one of the world’s foremost and influential physical volcanologists.
