As we end another year, it's common to look back and reflect, even honor events and people that have made contributions locally, regionally, or nationally. We have the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer, and a host of others - and it suddenly dawned on me. Why not have a special honor for a NYS scientist. It can be an annual event which recognizes a scientist from NY for outstanding contributions to the field of science; who makes a contribution that betters the lives of all citizens; whose contributions further the understanding of a particular field of science; or whose contributions in science education help students understand the role of science in society. It will be called the Amos Eaton Medal for Outstanding Contributions in Science by a New York State Scientist and will be presented each year by the Governor at a dinner held in the recipient's honor.
It would work like this. A panel of experts will meet once a year. Included annually on the panel will be a member of the New York Academy of Science, President of RPI, New York State Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research, and others I haven't thought of yet. Other panel members will serve two-year terms and will comprise fellow scientists from a variety of disciplines.
Any member of the public at large using a nomination form available on an advertised Web site, and others who carry it, may make nominations. Completed nomination forms will be circulated to each member of the committee with comments from each committee member. A vote of the members of the committee will be taken with majority vote being the winning vote.
Each year in addition to the award to a living scientist, the committee will chose a posthumous recognition to a former NY Scientist who meets the same conditions, but made their contributions during the 17th to 20th centuries. This will provide a historic timeline of New York's scientists that will show the importance that our state has played in the development of science and technology throughout American history. A special Hall of Fame will have their portraits or photographs hung.
The award ceremony will be a dinner held at a location chosen for the event in which the Governor will present the Amos Eaton Medal and award certificate. The dinner will be limited to the recipient and family or friends, Governor and staff, and invited guests and the awards committee. The press however will be invited to attend and cover the event.
The entire cost would be minimal. The Amos Eaton medal is relatively inexpensive to make. The bronze medal, as designed, can be made in quantity for a few bucks each, and a corporate sponsor can be found each year to sponsor the event. Other costs associated with the dinner could be donated by a local restaurant or sponsored. Advertising costs are minimal since a press release would be sent to the media, a Web site, and other web sites would carry the nomination form.
Why Amos Eaton? Before 1830, there were two important centers for the study of the science of geology: London, the largest city in the world at that time with a 1.5 million inhabitants, and Troy, New York, with a population with a little more than 10,000. In fact, before 1818, there was little published at all about American geology.
In 1824, Eaton asked Stephen Van Rensselaer for $300 to start the Rensselaer School (now RPI), the first in America dedicated to the study of science. Van Rensselaer eagerly donated the money and financially supported the school until 1829. By 1830, Eaton, founder and first professor of the school, had published a textbook and geologic map of the entire state, but also was making an enormous impact by becoming the mentor of several students that later would contribute huge amounts to the geologic knowledge of the country.
The geological profession calls the period 1818-1836 the "Eatonian Era," in honor of the success of Eaton's promotion of geology during that time. By 1860, seven graduates of Eaton were in charge of geological surveys throughout the country, a feat unmatched by any university to this day.
Eaton's influence on the following people, and their subsequent contributions, has never been equaled. These include Joseph Henry, first director of the Smithsonian Institution; James Eights, first American naturalist to visit the Antarctic; James Hall, "Father of American Paleontology;" Lewis Beck, NY's first State Mineralogist; Ebenezer Emmons, state geologist of NC; James C. Booth, State geologist of DE; James Dana, one of the founders of the Geological Society of America; Asa Fitch, NY's first State Entomologist, and many others. All we need to do is convince the Governor and legislature that it's a good idea!