Left to Right: Prof. Will B. White, Prof. P. Bogdan Onac, and John "Jack" Hess (Chair of the KWI)
The School of Geosciences is proud to announce that Dr. P. Bogdan Onac has received the William B. & Elizabeth L. White Medal for Excellence in Karst Studies, a prestigious recognition for his outstanding contributions to speleology and paleoclimatology (recently renamed from the Karst Water Institute (KWI) Award). As a dedicated researcher and educator, Dr. Onac has spent over 30 years advancing paleoclimate, paleoenvironmental, and sea-level reconstruction research using guano, ice, and speleothems from caves and lava tubes around the world. With over 180 published papers, 16 books, and numerous international collaborations, Dr. Onac continues to shape the field through his interdisciplinary expertise.
At the University of South Florida, he inspires the next generation of karst researchers through teaching and mentorship, while also serving as Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Speleology. His other recent accolades include the Romanian Academy’s Emil Racoviță Award and the USF World Global Excellence Award.
We congratulate Dr. Onac on this well-deserved honor!