Noted geoscientist advised GIA for 20 years
CARLSBAD, Calif. – September 8, 2026 – Gordon E. Brown, Jr., a member of the GIA Board of Governors from 1988 to 2008 and the D.W. Kirby Professor Emeritus of Earth and Planetary Science at Stanford University, and Professor Emeritus of Photon Science, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, passed away in August.
“Dr. Brown was a brilliant scientist who helped guide our research program and supported a generation of GIA scientists,’ said Dr. Wuyi Wang, GIA senior vice president of research and identification. “His expertise and curiosity were instrumental in building the strong scientific foundation for GIA.”
In addition to his service on the GIA Board of Governors, he was a past president of the Mineralogical Society of America and received numerous awards and recognition for his scientific contributions.
| About GIA An independent nonprofit organization, GIA (Gemological Institute of America), established in 1931, is recognized as the world’s foremost authority in gemology. GIA invented the famous 4Cs of Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat Weight and, in 1953, created the International Diamond Grading System™ which is recognized around the world as the standard for diamond quality. Through research, education, gemological laboratory services and instrument development, the Institute is dedicated to ensuring the public trust in gems and jewelry by upholding the highest standards of integrity, academics, science and professionalism. Visit GIA.edu. |
Noted geoscientist advised GIA for 20 years
CARLSBAD, Calif. – September 8, 2026 – Gordon E. Brown, Jr., a member of the GIA Board of Governors from 1988 to 2008 and the D.W. Kirby Professor Emeritus of Earth and Planetary Science at Stanford University, and Professor Emeritus of Photon Science, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, passed away in August.
“Dr. Brown was a brilliant scientist who helped guide our research program and supported a generation of GIA scientists,’ said Dr. Wuyi Wang, GIA senior vice president of research and identification. “His expertise and curiosity were instrumental in building the strong scientific foundation for GIA.”
In addition to his service on the GIA Board of Governors, he was a past president of the Mineralogical Society of America and received numerous awards and recognition for his scientific contributions.
| About GIA An independent nonprofit organization, GIA (Gemological Institute of America), established in 1931, is recognized as the world’s foremost authority in gemology. GIA invented the famous 4Cs of Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat Weight and, in 1953, created the International Diamond Grading System™ which is recognized around the world as the standard for diamond quality. Through research, education, gemological laboratory services and instrument development, the Institute is dedicated to ensuring the public trust in gems and jewelry by upholding the highest standards of integrity, academics, science and professionalism. Visit GIA.edu. |
