Professor receives UNLV’s top research award

UNLV geoscience professor Eugene Smith, Ph.D., received the 2006 Harry Reid Research Award earlier this year. The Harry Reid Research Award was established in 2001 by President Carol C. Harter to honor the contributions of Sen. Harry Reid to research at UNLV. This award has a focus on research that positively impacts the local community as well as the state of Nevada .

Throughout his 26 years at UNLV, Smith has developed an impressive record of research in the field of volcanology, including research involving the probability of volcanic eruption in the area of Yucca Mountain. Smith is also currently studying the geology of the new Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area south of Henderson and large stratovolcanoes related to the Ring of Fire in Alaska and Kamchatka, Siberia, related to the “Ring of Fire,” which contains much of the world's volcanic activity.

Smith is the author of 75 journal articles. He has mentored 15 graduate students, five postdoctoral scholars, and six research associates. Smith played an instrumental role in the development of the Geoscience master's and Ph.D. degrees at UNLV.

All full-time faculty members are eligible to be nominated for the award, which is funded by the Annual Fund. The winner receives a $10,000 stipend and a medal presented at UNLV's academic recognition ceremony.