With time the Society wished to extend its connections and ‘foreign members’ began to be appointed, with the same background aims of bringing prestige to the Society and extending its network to gain news of geological progress and happenings on a global scale.
Today the invited ‘honorary’ and ‘foreign’ members are Honorary Fellows and continue in a modern context to fill the roles originally envisaged; most are from other countries with currently four from the UK. Honorary Fellows are recognised for their achievements and potential, not only in science but as ambassadors for geological science and its promotion to the wider public
Recently Elected Honorary Fellows
Prof Francisco Hervé Allamand
Prof Hervé's impressive production as a research scientist is only part of his career: he is a renowned and much-loved teacher, having supervised dozens of PhD and Masters theses.
His approach has always involved international collaborators (whom he attracted to Chile). Research fieldwork has always been designed to mix senior experts with young Chilean researchers and students, to the mutual benefit of everyone.
He has maintained close relationships with past students, many of whom are now prominent in academic and exploration geology (and other fields) and is well-known and respected nationally and internationally. He has always been prominent at international geological congresses dealing with the Pacific margin of
Gondwana.
Prof Hervé has strong links, both professional and personal, with geoscientists in Argentina (where he has enabled cross-border investigations), Europe (France, Germany, Spain, UK, Bulgaria), USA, Australia and New Zealand. As Secretary of the Chilean Academy of Sciences he also has wide network of contacts amongst the most honoured and influential Chileans in other branches of Science. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Geological Society of America.
(elected on 22 September 2015)
Dr Gabi Schneider
Dr Schneider graduated in 1980 with a Master of Science in Economic Geology from the University of Frankfurt, where she also obtained her PhD in 1984. She joined the Geological Survey of Namibia in 1985 as a Senior Geologist and was appointed Director in 1996.
Her professional experience covers economic and exploration geology, mineralogy and geochemistry as well as management and administration. She is an honorary life member of the Geological Society of Namibia, and is a registered Scientist with the South Africa Council for Natural Scientists.
Dr Schneider is the President of the Organisation of African Geological Surveys (2013-2016) and the Vice Chairperson of the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia; a Director of the Minerals Development Fund of Namibia; the Vice Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Namibian Institute for Mining and Technology; a member of the Sustainable Development Council of Namibia; a member of the Benguela Current Commission; a member of the Commission for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention in Namibia, chairing its Technical Subcommittee; and a member of the Scientific Committee of the National Heritage Council. She is a founding member of the Small Miners Association of Namibia.
Dr Schneider is a member of the Natural Science Programme Committee of the Namibian National Committee for UNESCO, and a Senior Advisor for UNESCO's Geopark Programme. She is a member of the Local Organising Committee of the 35th IGC, and also serves on the scientific programme committee. She is chairing the Geology Advisory Board of the University of Namibia, and has been an external examiner of the University of St. Andrews, the University of Frankfurt, the University of the Witwatersrand and University of South Africa.
(elected 17 June 2015)
How to nominate
If you wish to nominate someone for Honorary Fellowship, please complete the nomination form below and return to
stephanie.jones@geolsoc.org.uk. Nominations must be proposed and seconded by Fellows of the Geological Society.