Research Scholar Lachlan Summers and Alumna Gloria Maritza Gómez Revuelta have been awarded the Ronald Rainger Prize 2026 by the History of Science Society. The prize was presented at the HSS/ESHS Annual Meeting 2026.

They received the prize for their article, “Negotiating the ‘Geo’ of Cold War Geopolitics: Seismology as Diplomacy during the International Geophysical Year (1957–58),” published in Global Perspectives in March 2025. Focusing on Mexican seismologists, the article explores how the International Geophysical Year became a site of Cold War diplomatic tensions over geophysical data sovereignty. It shows how scientific collaboration enabled Latin American nations to challenge US dominance over the management and circulation of scientific data in the Western Hemisphere.

Named after historian of science Ronald Rainger (1949–2016), the prize recognizes outstanding early career work on the history of the earth and environmental sciences. The prize honors his legacy by recognizing both intellectual excellence and contributions to the field.