The William B. Joyner Memorial Lecture series was established by SSA in cooperation with the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) to honor Bill Joyner’s distinguished career at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and his abiding commitment to the exchange of information at the interface of earthquake science and earthquake engineering. Joyner Lecturers are chosen on the basis of their work at this interface, whether it involves contributions from earthquake science to earthquake engineering, or from earthquake engineering to earthquake science.
Presented at the Annual Meetings of SSA and EERI, as well as at locations of the lecturer’s choosing, the lectures bring scientists and engineers together in an effort to make our world a safer one–just as Joyner himself did so brilliantly.
Nomination Process
Nominations can be made by any member of EERI or SSA with the exception of members of the Joyner Selection Committee, the SSA Board of Directors, or the EERI Board of Directors, who may not nominate nor submit an endorsement for any candidate.
In a nomination package, the nominator must clearly document the nominee’s accomplishments that foster and enhance communication at the earthquake-science/earthquake-engineering interface and explain why that person’s work has made a positive difference.
The annual deadline for Joyner nominations is 30 June. Please submit nominations via email to
Nomination Materials
A complete nomination package must include the following:
- A nomination letter of no more than two pages. The letter must clearly document the nominee’s accomplishments that foster and enhance the earthquake-science/earthquake- engineering interface and explain why these accomplishments have made a positive impact on the state of knowledge and practice in earthquake engineering and seismology. This letter must be endorsed by three additional persons, either by adding their signature to the nominating letter or by providing additional individual letters of support (also no more than two pages each, and no more than three in total). These additional persons or signatories do not need to be SSA or EERI members.
- Either a Curriculum Vitae for the nominee or a substantial summary of the professional history of the candidate. This may include honors, awards, professional affiliations, lectures and publications, and professional service and experience that address the intent of the Joyner Lecture Award.
- Additionally, the chief nominator must complete and submit this online ethics disclosure form for every nominee. The nomination is not considered final/received until the form is completed. Click here to complete the Ethics Disclosure Form for Nominators.
Selection Criteria
In the spirit of William B. Joyner’s commitment to the exchange of information at the interface of earthquake science and earthquake engineering, the chosen recipient must meet all of the below criteria:
- Membership in SSA or EERI.
- A demonstrated professional commitment to the exchange of information at the interface of earthquake science and earthquake engineering.
- A demonstrated professional history of strengthening the interface of earthquake science and earthquake engineering, by either making significant contributions from earthquake science to earthquake engineering or significant contributions from earthquake engineering to earthquake science.
Current members of the Joyner Lecture Selection Committee are not eligible for nomination or selection.
The Joyner Lecturer is selected by the Joyner Committee by 1 October each year. Nominations can be considered for a period of up to two years (i.e., nominees not selected in the year of submission can be considered in the next year without resubmission of the nomination materials).
EERI and SSA waive meeting registration fees for the Joyner Lecturer and provide travel funds to attend the Annual Meeting of each organization.
