Nemesio M. Pérez

The 2024 Christiaan Huygens Medal is awarded to Nemesio M. Pérez for his outstanding scientific contributions to the study of soil-gas geochemistry in volcanic areas, and for promoting international research programs in Europe, Asia, South America and Africa.

Nemesio M. Pérez has a long and outstanding career in volcanic and environmental geochemistry. He worked in many leading international research centers giving significant contributes to the development of innovative methods and sensor networks for monitoring gas emissions in active volcanic areas. His publication record is impressive, and many of his articles are among the most cited in recent geochemical literature. He has a high scientific reputation and an active role in the geochemical and volcanological community.

Notwithstanding this intense international activity, he has remained strongly tied to his homeland in the Canary Islands, where he has created and developed the first regional volcano monitoring institution (INVOLCAN). To date, this institution is recognised as a modern and state-of-the-art volcanological monitoring network. During some emergency phases related to volcanic eruptions, Nemesio M. Pérez has demonstrated a scientific and management ability to lead programs for the mitigation and prevention of natural risks with a comprehensive and modern (multidisciplinary) approach. Finally, Nemesio M. Pérez paid great attention to promote the career of early career scientists and PhD candidates in a large international context, organising training courses and meetings in collaboration with top leading scientists in volcanology.