CITATION

William (Bill) I. Rose
2026 Goldich Medal Recipient

It is my heartfelt honor to present the late William I. Rose (Bill) with the 2026 Institute on Lake Superior Geology’s Goldich Medal. Bill has made tremendous contributions to the field of geoheritage and to increasing public understanding of the value and global importance of Lake Superior geology. This highly significant phase of his career, despite being retired for most of it, came from a genuine desire to encourage people to “get outside and love it”, to increase their Earth science literacy, and to deepen their love of Lake Superior. This work is strongly aligned with the criteria and spirit of this distinguished award.

Bill served for 41 years as a professor of geology and volcanology at Michigan Technological University, working alongside scientists from around the world. He mentored countless graduate students, many of whom became close friends and respected colleagues. He took immense pride in their accomplishments and in his role advancing global volcano research. The volcanology program he helped build at Michigan Tech has become one of the world’s leading departments, drawing students from around the globe and producing leaders in the field.

In his transition to retirement, Bill’s research focus shifted to geoscience education and outreach. This new direction was rooted in his dedication to K-12 educators through projects like the Michigan Teachers Excellence Program (MiTEP) and other teacher professional development in the Keweenaw that focused on Lake Superior geology. Bill held teachers in very high esteem, recognizing them as multipliers and the heart of essential knowledge growth. Working with educators helped launch Bill’s commitment to the field of geoheritage, inspiring the multitude of initiatives and learning resources that he developed for both formal and informal learners within the Keweenaw and Lake Superior regions. The thoughtful design of these programs yielded a vast inventory of Keweenaw geosites that could be used to explore the ways Lake Superior geology guides and influences our lives and culture.
Bill shared countless “geostories” with the Keweenaw community - an expression he coined, along with “geopoetry”. His enthusiasm and energy never waned, and he never told a story the same way twice. His stories have made the global significance of Lake Superior geology accessible to people and have helped them to see how geology has shaped their own identity, history, and culture - the very essence of geoheritage. These stories resonated with people, inspiring a sense of pride rooted in the geology of our place and understanding just how fascinating Lake Superior geology is. His stories have inspired others to share their own geostories in the Keweenaw community, such as the Keweenaw National Historical Park and the Carnegie Museum.

Bill shared every geoheritage outreach resource he created for zero profit in order to help the Keweenaw thrive and to promote greater understanding of Lake Superior geology. Signage, books, geotours, boulder gardens, museum exhibits, concerts in the belly of an abandoned copper mine, geologic contributions to federal grant applications to support local conservation efforts, and the labyrinth Keweenaw Geoheritage website - all of these were given freely to support our community shift from an extractive economic past and to be forward-thinking and supportive of conservation, education, recreation tourism opportunities - all rooted in our rich geology. This generosity is punctuated by the family gift of Silver Island to the Keweenaw Land Trust - an example of Bill’s strong advocacy for the protection of Lake Superior geosites and the promise of continued public access and education.

At the very heart of Bill’s education and outreach work is community. Through this work he fostered relationships at the local, national, and global level. At the local level his efforts have united teachers, artists, scientists, outdoor recreation enthusiasts, conservation organizations, and tourists, all drawn together by a common curiosity of Lake Superior geology.
Nationally, Bill played a vital and formative role in shaping the vision for geoheritage in the United States, contributing to numerous workshops hosted by the U.S. Committee for Geoheritage and Geoparks and the Geological Society of America. At the global level, the Keweenaw has achieved recognition as a leader in the US geoheritage movement through Bill’s pursuit of prestigious global designations. He spearheaded the designation of the Jacobsville Sandstone as one of the first Global Heritage Stone Resources in the world and the first in the United States, recognized by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) and the UNESCO’s International Geoscience Program. Bill also promoted the Keweenaw as a strong candidate to become the first UNESCO Global Geopark in the United States. Within both global and national communities, the Keweenaw is largely viewed as a Geopark.

Bill’s active membership with the ILSG served as a bridge between the professional geoscience community and the broader public. He was a first or co-author on numerous abstracts and field guides presented at ILSG meetings, including the Geological Field Trip, Eastern Isle Royale, Michigan (2013) and the Self-guided geological field trip to the Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan (1994). Bill was visionary and big thinking; this is clearly reflected in his research and many contributions to the training and education of both geoscientists and the broader public. Bill’s leadership in geoheritage and passion for education and outreach has deepened public understanding, appreciation, and desire to protect Lake Superior geology. I am brimming with gratitude to see Bill’s service honored with the prestigious Goldich Medal award.

Submitted by Erika Vye
Great Lakes Research Center, MTU