Andrew McDonald, a professor at Laurentian University’s Harquail School of Earth Sciences, has been recognized by the Canadian mineralogy community once again.
This time, it’s for his contributions to the Mineralogical Association of Canada (MAC), a leading national non-profit scientific organization dedicated to advancing the study of minerals.
McDonald was presented with the Leonard G. Berry Medal, which is awarded to recognize distinguished service to the association in areas including leadership, governance and contributions that enhance the mineral sciences in Canada or broaden the Canadian mineralogical perspective.
McDonald accepted the award at the MAC’s Annual Meeting in May. In his acceptance speech, he said that he recognized the importance of service to MAC in his teenage years, when he found mentors who inspired him to build an academic career in mineralogy.
As his career progressed, so did his service to the organization. McDonald served as secretary (2000-2006), as an associate editor and as a senior editor for The Canadian Journal of Mineralogy (CJMP), formerly The Canadian Mineralogist, and held several presidential positions (2014-2022).
Throughout his career, McDonald also dedicated himself to geoscience students and colleagues as a professor and applied mineralogist at the Harquail School of Earth Sciences, where he uses mineralogy as a tool in the geosciences.
His research focuses on using mineralogy and crystal chemistry in mineral exploration. This supports a central educational and research focus at the Harquail School of Earth Sciences, which is engaged in improving our understanding of ore-deposit formation throughout time.
This crucial area of geoscience helps to provide minerals and metals needed by industry and society through the discovery of new ore bodies.
McDonald’s exceptional research and collaboration with students are well-recognized, said a press release.
He is a co-author of the top two most-read papers in CJMP since 2023, which McDonald says “speaks to the relevance and calibre of research within the papers, and more broadly, within the Harquail School of Earth Sciences.”
McDonald has also been awarded four Hawley medals for best papers in CJMP.
“It is with both pride and humility that Dr. McDonald accepted the honour as MAC’s 2025 Berry medallist,” said a press release.