Presentation of the Roebling Medal for 2005 of the Mineralogical Society of America to Ho-kwang Mao

Abstract

Mr. President, Members, and Guests: It is an honor and a pleasure to introduce Ho-kwang “David” Mao as recipient of the Mineralogical Society of America’s highest honor, the Roebling Medal. David was born in Shanghai, China, and moved with his family to Taiwan when he was seven years old. He received his B.S. degree from the National University of Taiwan in 1963, served as a second lieutenant in the Air Force for a year, and entered the University of Rochester the next year. He became involved in high-pressure studies with Bill Bassett and Taro Takahashi, leading to his early interest in iron at high pressure as well as in exploring phase transitions in mantle silicates. Upon graduation from the University of Rochester in 1968, Dave joined the Geophysical Laboratory of the Carnegie Institution of Washington as a postdoctoral fellow and became a staff member in 1972. I have known Dave for many years as a friend and professional colleague. I first met him on Connecticut Avenue in Washington, I think in 1968. He and Peter Bell were walking near the Sheraton Park Hotel where the spring AGU meeting was being held. Peter introduced Dave and said that this fellow was going to revolutionize the field of high-pressure science. That prediction has certainly come true and there is …