nationality work_institutions article_title name alma_mater
united states george mason university robert hazen
 robert m. hazen mit , harvard
robert hazen

robert hazen is an american mineralogist and astrobiologist .
he is a research scientist at the carnegie institution of washington 's geophysical laboratory and clarence robinson professor of earth science at george mason university , in the united states .
hazen received a b.s. and m.s. in earth science at the massachusetts institute of technology 1971 , and a ph.d. at harvard university in mineralogy & crystallography 1975 .
after studies as nato postdoctoral fellow at cambridge university in england , he joined the carnegie institution 's research effort .
hazen is author of more than 350 articles and 20 books on science , history , and music .
a fellow of the american association for the advancement of science , he has received the mineralogical society of america award -lrb- 1982 -rrb- , the american chemical society ipatieff prize -lrb- 1986 -rrb- , the ascap deems taylor award -lrb- 1989 -rrb- , the educational press association award -lrb- 1992 -rrb- , the elizabeth wood science writing award -lrb- 1998 -rrb- , and the distinguished public service medal of the mineralogical society of america -lrb- 2009 -rrb- .
he has presented numerous named lectures at universities , and is currently sigma xi distinguished lecturer -lrb- 2008 -- 2010 -rrb- .
he served as distinguished lecturer for the mineralogical society of america , and is a past president of the society .
hazen 's recent research focuses on the role of minerals in the origin of life , including such processes as mineral-catalyzed organic synthesis and the selective adsorption of organic molecules on mineral surfaces .
he has also developed a new approach to mineralogy , called `` mineral evolution , '' which explores the co-evolution of the geo - and biospheres .
he is also an adviser to the microbes mind forum .
the mineral hazenite was named in his honor .
