The COSMOS/EERI/SSA Bruce Bolt Medal

The Bruce Bolt Medal is awarded jointly by the Consortium of Strong Motion Observations Systems (COSMOS), Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) and SSA to recognize individuals worldwide whose accomplishments involve the promotion and use of strong-motion earthquake data and whose leadership in the transfer of scientific and engineering knowledge into practice or policy has led to improved seismic safety. 

The following three criteria are used to select the recipient: 1) promotion of strong-motion instrumentation or advancing strong-motion data processing or data utilization, 2) technical contributions in seismic engineering or engineering seismology, and 3) leadership in the transfer of knowledge into practice or policy that has led to improved seismic safety. 

The award is issued annually and is presented to the recipient at the annual meeting of the recipient’s choice among the three sponsoring organizations.

Nomination Process
COSMOS, EERI and SSA members are encouraged to nominate a colleague or peer for this prestigious honor. Complete nomination packages should be submitted using this form: https://forms.gle/Ph84qVXsM86cDkUe9.

The annual deadline to submit nominations for the Bruce Bolt Medal is 30 June. Incomplete nomination packages will not be considered by the Joint Selection Committee.

Nomination Materials
A complete nomination package must include the following:

  1. A nomination letter, written and submitted by the chief nominator. It should be no longer than two pages and must address the ways in which the candidate meets all three of the selection criteria provided below.
  2. A Curriculum Vitae for the nominee or a substantial summary of the professional history of the candidate, including employment, significant publications, honors, activities and accomplishments relevant to the Bolt Medal criteria.
  3. The current contact information for the candidate.
  4. The nomination must be endorsed by three additional individuals, either by adding their signature to the nominating letter or by providing an additional individual letter of support. Such individual letters should include a personal perspective on the nominee and their sustained impact on the field.
  5. A signed nominator disclosure form submitted by the chief nominator. Click here to download this form.

Please note, the nomination form requires a google account to submit. If you do not have a google account, you can submit your materials by sending them in an email to boltmedal@eeri.org. For more information about the rules regarding the award, read our Honors Program Guide.

 

Selection Criteria
In the spirit of Bruce Bolt’s contribution to the science, the chosen recipient must meet all of the below three (3) criteria:

  1. Promotion of strong-motion instrumentation or advancing strong-motion data processing or publicly-available data utilization;
  2. Technical contributions in earthquake engineering or engineering seismology; and
  3. Leadership in the transfer of knowledge into practice or policy that has led to improved seismic safety.

Nominations will be reviewed in confidence by a six-person Joint Selection Committee formed by two representatives from each of the three sponsoring organizations. The recommended nominee will be considered in confidence by each organization’s Board of Directors for their approval and joint selection of the medalist.

  • 2022 Selection Committee Members:
    • Brad Aagaard (COSMOS)
    • Gail Atkinson (SSA)
    • Hamid Haddadi (Chair) (COSMOS)
    • Ting Lin (EERI)
    • Robert Nigbor (Chair of the Committee – EERI)
    • Ruth Harris (SSA)

Any questions regarding this award should be sent to boltmedal@eeri.org.

2023 Bruce Bolt Medalist

Jose Martinez-CruzadoJosé A. Martinez-Cruzado, professor of the civil engineering and surveying department at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez is the recipient of the 2023 Bruce Bolt Medal.

Martinez-Cruzado has been a leader in earthquake engineering in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean region for three decades. As the director of the Puerto Rico Strong Motion Program, he has focused on the development of a strong motion network in Puerto Rico, the British Virgin Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Dominican Republic, and on seismic arrays in dams, buildings, and bridges. He has also worked on the design and rehabilitation of reinforced concrete structures in regions with high seismic risk.

A Ph.D. student of Bolt’s at the University of California, Berkeley, Martinez-Cruzado returned to Puerto Rico after receiving his degree to help expand and modernize its strong motion network and promote seismic safety in the Caribbean region.