The W.W. Hutchison Medal is named after Dr. William W. Hutchison in recognition of his many contributions to Canadian and international geoscience. The medal is awarded to a young individual for recent exceptional advances in Canadian earth science research.
2025 W.W. Hutchison Medalist
Dr. John Jamieson (University of Ottawa)
Dr. John Jamieson is a Professor and Tier I Canada Research Chair in Marine Geology at the University of Ottawa, where his research is advancing our understanding of seafloor hydrothermal systems and the processes that form deep-sea mineral deposits, integrating ocean exploration, geochemistry, and cutting-edge seafloor mapping technologies. He earned a B.Sc. in Geology from the University of Alberta (2002), an M.Sc. in Geochemistry from the University of Maryland (2005), and a Ph.D. in Marine Geology from the University of Ottawa (2013). In addition to his academic path, he gained experience in mineral exploration in British Columbia, the Canadian Arctic, and with the Alberta Geological Survey. Following his Ph.D., he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany (2013–2015), before joining Memorial University of Newfoundland as an Associate Professor and Tier II Canada Research Chair. In 2025, Dr. Jamieson returned from St. John’s to the University of Ottawa, where he joined the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences as a Full Professor. His research explores seafloor hydrothermal systems, marine mineral resources, and technological advances for ocean mapping and seafloor characterization.
Recognized as an international leader in ocean exploration and marine geoscience, Prof. Jamieson received the prestigious Hutchison Medal from the Geological Association of Canada (GAC) in 2025. As part of this honor, he will be delivering a national lecture tour, sharing his expertise on the diversity of seafloor hydrothermal systems, advancements in geological mapping, and the resource potential of deep-sea mineral deposits.
Check out the 2025-2026 Hutchison Lecture Tour!
The deadline for National Medal nomination forms will be in winter 2025
Previous Award Winners
2024 Chris Spencer
2023 Jamie Kirkpatrick
2022 Britta Jensen
2021 Vincent van Hinsberg
2020 Shahin Dashtgard
2019 Brian Kendall
2018 Gordon Osinski
2017 Christie Rowe
2016 Stephen Piercey
2015 Murray Gingras
2014 Ali Polat
2013 Duane Froese
2012 Galen Halverson
2011 Anton Chakhmouradian
2010 Octavian Catuneanu
2009 Michael Caldwell
2008 James MacEachern
2007 Jeremy Richards
2006 John Gosse
2005 Alan J. Anderson
2004 Shoufa Lin