Stephen Norton
Professor of Geological Sciences
Cooperating Professor in the Climate Change Institute
Earth Sciences
Dr. Steve Norton’s research career is stunning. Within the area of low-temperature aqueous geochemistry he has been associated with more than $16 million in external funds and almost 200 peer-reviewed publications. And his productivity continues to the present! He was awarded the Presidential Research and Creative Achievement Award in 1990, the Alumni Association Distinguished Maine Professor award in 1991, and the Distinguished Professor Award, College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture in 1998. Dr. Norton was instrumental in establishing the Environmental Chemistry Laboratory at the University of Maine and the Bear Brook Watershed in Maine research site. Suffice to say that Steve has been and continues to be one of the most creative and productive faculty members in the history of the University of Maine.
As a teacher, Dr. Norton has also excelled in all areas of instruction and mentoring. His classes in Environmental Geology and Low Temperature Geochemistry have always drawn praise from students for their rigor and interesting content. Dr. Norton chaired more than 30 Masters and Ph. D. thesis committees and served on more than 60 other thesis committees. He has worked with 4 post-doctoral scientists. He was one of five faculty members, led by Professor Susan Brawley, who created the National Science Foundation GK-12 program which was awarded the New England Higher Education Excellence Award.
Professor Norton served as chair of the Earth Sciences Department for 10 years and Interim or Associate Dean of the former College of Arts and Sciences for 2 years. His list of public service to his profession goes on for pages and cannot be summarized in any way except to say it is extraordinary. He remains a noon-time runner along campus trails and has inspired many students and faculty to exercise. Perhaps Steve’s most notable service achievement was as a member of the “Faculty Five”, led by Professor George Jacobson, who interceded for the University before the Maine Legislature and brought strong and continuing support from the State to the University. The “Faculty Five” received the President Abram W. Harris Award in 2005. Thank you for everything you’ve done and best wishes on your retirement.