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News Release

Last modified: Wednesday, February 19, 2003

IUB geologist Haydn Murray elected to National Academy of Engineering

The National Academy of Engineering has elected Indiana University Bloomington geologist Haydn Murray to its ranks.

Election to membership recognizes Murray's "important contributions to engineering theory and practice," specifically his "pioneering work on the mineralogy and industrial applications of clays," according to the announcement by the academy. Election to the academy is one of the highest honors an engineer can achieve.

Murray, professor emeritus of geological sciences, is Indiana University's first electee to the National Academy of Engineering. He joins 10 IU colleagues who are members of the National Academy of Sciences and five who are members of the Institute of Medicine. The total of 16 current members is more than that of any other institution in the state of Indiana.

Colleagues consider Murray a pioneer in the area of clay mineralogy. In 1957, he left his faculty positions in the Department of Geology and the Indiana Geological Survey at IU Bloomington to join the clay-mining Georgia Kaolin Co. as its director of research. He moved through the ranks to executive vice president, a position he held for nine years, and helped the company develop an improved kaolin clay for coating paper that is still used today. Kaolin clays help keep ink on the surface of paper and give the paper a glossy sheen.

Murray returned to IUB In 1973 as the Geology Department chair. In 1984, he founded his own consulting company, H.H. Murray & Associates, and he continues to be active in research. In 2001, he established the Applied Clay Mineralogy Chair at IU Bloomington, which will be assumed by leading mineralogist David Bish of Los Alamos National Laboratory beginning in August.

"Haydn is an amazing person," said Christopher Maples, chair of the IUB Department of Geological Sciences. "He has been totally dedicated and tireless when doing science or leading scientists as an administrator."

To arrange an interview with Murray or Maples, contact David Bricker at 812-856-9035 or brickerd@indiana.edu.

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