Nininger Meteorite Award Information
2010 Nininger Meteorite Award Recipients
The Center for Meteorite Studies is pleased to announce that Andrew Beck, a graduate student at the University of Tennessee, received the 2010 Nininger Meteorite Award, and Eve L. Berger, a graduate student at the University of Arizona, received an Honorable Mention for the Award.
Andrew’s paper, “Diogenites as polymict breccias composed of orthopyroxenite and harzburgite” sheds new light on the origin and evolution of diogenites, which are stony achondrite meteorites believed to come from the asteroid 4 Vesta. Through examination of major, minor and trace element compositional trends in multiple diogenite specimens, Andrew isolated two previously convolved lithologies. This discovery enabled the creation of a new diogenite classification scheme, where subclasses of the diogenite group are distinguished using their mineral modes. His work further constrains igneous processes within the crust of Vesta, defines a new taxonomy for the diogenites, and provides context for data interpretation from the Dawn mission, which will begin mapping Vesta in July 2011. Andrew’s research, published in Meteoritics and Planetary Science in May 2010, was conducted under the advisement of Dr. Hap McSween, himself a Nininger Meteorite Award recipient.
Andrew Beck
Eve’s paper, “Evidence for aqueous activity on comet 81P/Wild 2 from sulfide mineral assemblages in Stardust samples and CI chondrites” reveals similarities in the mineralogies of CI chondrites, primitive carbonaceous chondrites whose bulk chemical composition closely matches that of the solar photosphere, and Comet Wild 2, which was sampled by the NASA Stardust mission. Iron sulfide mineral assemblages present in both CI chondrites and Wild 2 samples, in particular the copper-bearing iron sulfide cubanite (CuFe2S3), provide evidence of low-temperature (< ~200 °C) hydrothermal alteration within these objects. Eve’s research was conducted under the advisement of former Nininger Meteorite Award recipients Drs. Lindsay Keller and Dante Lauretta.
Andrew and Eve were selected from among 7 Nininger Meteorite Award submissions received from students across the country. Each submission was reviewed by an international panel of experts from a broad array of fields in meteoritical science.
History of the Award
In 1965, Dr. H.H. Nininger and Mrs. Addie D. Nininger endowed the Nininger Science of Meteoritics Fund to the Center for Meteorite Studies at Arizona State University in order to promote interest in meteorite-related topics among young scientists. The Fund supports the Nininger Meteorite Award, which recognizes outstanding student achievement in the “Science of Meteoritics” as embodied by an original research paper. Past recipients include Harry Y. McSween (University of Tennessee), Edward Stolper (California Institute of Technology) and the recipients of the 2005 Barringer Award (Billy P. Glass, University of Delaware) and Leonard Medal (Joseph Goldstein, University of Massachusetts, Amherst).
Download a list of the past recipients.
Permitted Topics
The original text of the Nininger endowment states that the "Science of Meteoritics embraces all aspects of the study of inert natural matter existing in space, passing through the atmosphere, or having come to Earth from space, together with any or all of the phenomena occasioned by its fall and its effect upon the Earth or upon any other member of the Solar System. Such science shall also be considered to include theoretical consideration as to the origin of such matter and special relationships". Research topics covered under this description include, but are not limited to, physical and chemical properties of meteorites, origin of meteoritic material and cratering. Observational, experimental, statistical or theoretical investigations are allowed.
Eligibility Requirements
- Applicant must be an undergraduate or graduate student enrolled at a United States college or university.
- The student must be first author of the paper, but does not have to be the sole author.
- Qualifying papers must cover original research conducted by the student.
Award Application Process
The 2011 Nininger Meteorite Award application opportunity is now closed. The 2012 application opportunity will open in Fall 2012. Please check this website for application information and materials.
