Dr Gordon E. Brown Jr, noted geoscientist and former member of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Board of Governors, passed away in August 2026. He was a member of the GIA Board from 1988 to 2008, contributing to the organisation’s scientific and research initiatives for two decades.

Brown was the D.W. Kirby Professor Emeritus of Earth and Planetary Science at Stanford University and Professor Emeritus of Photon Science at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. His expertise in earth and planetary sciences played a significant role in strengthening GIA’s research capabilities and scientific foundation.

“Dr. Brown was a brilliant scientist who helped guide our research programme and supported a generation of GIA scientists,” said Dr Wuyi Wang, senior vice president of research and identification at GIA. “His expertise and curiosity were instrumental in building the strong scientific foundation for GIA.”

Brown also served as president of the Mineralogical Society of America and received several honours and awards for his contributions to the scientific community.

GIA said his work and long-standing association with the organisation had a lasting impact on its research programme and the scientists he mentored and supported.