2026 – Christian Chopin

Research Director Emeritus at Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), France
Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS Paris), France

Christian Chopin has distinguished himself through the profound and lasting impact of his research in Earth sciences, exemplifying one of the central pursuits of mineralogy: the discovery and interpretation of new mineral occurrences. His identification of coesite in the Dora-Maira Massif demonstrated that continental crust can be subducted to mantle depths and subsequently exhumed, revolutionizing our views on vertical tectonics, and establishing the field of ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism. Beyond this landmark discovery, his career has been characterized by rigorous, innovative, and elegant mineralogical research, integrating field observations, crystal chemistry, thermobarometry, and experimental petrology to address fundamental questions in Earth sciences. In addition to his outstanding scientific accomplishments, Christian Chopin has been a dedicated mentor, educator, and editor, fostering international collaboration and inspiring generations of researchers.