Location:
Meeting Room 201-203
Sponsored By
Panel Discussion Moderators:
Dr. Gabriela Farfan is the Coralyn Whitney Curator of Gems and Minerals at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. In her role as the curator-in-charge of the National Gem Collection, she is honored to be a steward of this legendary collection and looks forward to building the collection, creating wonderful exhibits, making specimens accessible to researchers and other museums, and using the collection to inspire future generations of gem scientists and enthusiasts. Like many gem and mineral aficionados, she began collecting gems and minerals at an early age—which led her to a career in mineralogy. Over the past 20+ years, she has visited over 30 mines across the US, Canada, and Chile and has enjoyed meeting miners, gem artists, and scientists during these adventures. After receiving a B.S. degree in Geological and Environmental Sciences from Stanford University, she earned her PhD in Geochemistry from the MIT-WHOI Joint Program. As a research curator and mineralogist, she studies the crystal structures and chemistry of minerals formed under varying conditions in order to answer questions in environmental mineralogy, biomineralization, and gem science. Her research primarily focuses on how aquatic biocarbonates (like coral skeletons, mollusk shells, and pearls) record shifting aquatic environments using crystallography coupled with trace element and isotope geochemistry, for which she was recently awarded the 2024 Doris Curtis Award for Outstanding Woman in Science by the Geological Society of America. Beyond her research and curatorial work, she enjoys mentoring the next generation of mineralogists from the undergraduate to postdoctoral levels.
Panel Discussion: Presenters
Director of the Alfie Norville Gem and Mineral Museum, has experience in museums around the country including the Oakland Museum of California, Museum of Science, Boston, and the Mineralogical & Gemological Museum at Harvard University. Prior to joining the Alfie team in 2023, she was the Interim Deputy Director of Content and Collections and Director of Collections at the Oakland Museum of California, where she served on the Senior Leadership team, representing the Collections, Production, and Curatorial departments, establishing overall strategy for exhibitions, preservation, and collections care. In addition to her collections background, Violetta is a skilled personnel manager with a successful track record of completing major projects including AAM reaccreditation, construction of new facilities, and strategic planning. Violetta holds a Master of Liberal Arts in Museum Studies from the Harvard University Extension School and a Bachelor of Science in Archaeological Materials from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Kimberly Vagner most recently served as director of the Gems and Minerals Center of Excellence at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas, Texas. She also worked for the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and credits her start in the profession with volunteering in the mineral sciences department of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. She has a Masters Degree in Decorative Arts & Design from Parsons School of Design, and has a Graduate Gemologist diploma from GIA.
Dr. Eloïse Gaillou is director and curator of the Mineralogy Museum of « l’École des Mines de Paris » (Paris School of Mines), now known as Mines Paris – PSL. After a Master degree in Geology / Petrology, she received her PhD in Material Sciences at the University of Nantes (France) studying opals. She combined her PhD with a DUG (Diplôme d’Université de Gemmologie), beginning her work on diamonds. Dr. Gaillou continued studying diamonds during her postdoc at the Smithsonian, then at the Carnegie Institution, both in Washington, DC. She took the position of associate curator at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County in 2012, before eventually heading back to France in 2015 to take the position at the School of Mines, where she oversees the collection of 100,000 specimens and takes care of the permanent and temporary exhibits. She took the position of Director of the museum in January 2024.
Dr. Gaillou is the author of more than forty articles, notably on opal and diamond. She regularly gives lectures in France and abroad for scientists, connoisseurs or beginners. Dr. Gaillou is currently the French National Representative for IMA – Commission on Museums and member of the Board of the Society of Mineral Museum Professionals (SMMP). She is a member of the MSA (Mineralogical Society of America), of the MetSoc (Meteoritical Society), of the SGF (Geological Society of France) and of the SFMC (French Society of Mineralogy and Crystallography).
Dr. Raquel Alonso-Perez is a dynamic leader with over 15 years of experience in museum management, specializing in Mineral Sciences. Currently the Curator at Harvard University’s Earth and Planetary Sciences Department, she spearheads strategic initiatives that enhance the collection, preservation, and public engagement of rare and valuable geological collections. Raquel’s expertise lies in curatorial excellence, exhibition development, and collection management, with a focus on educating diverse audiences and promoting scientific discovery. With a Ph.D. in Mineral Physics from ETH Zurich and graduated gemologist by Gemological Association of Great Britain, Raquel has extensive field experience across continents. Raquel is a highly knowledgeable professional in mineralogy, petrology and gemology, with deep specialization in geochemistry. Raquel’s work emphasizes innovative approaches to gemstone provenance studies and mantle geochemical processes, leveraging advanced analytical methods and technologies to push the boundaries of her field. Raquel has overseen major projects like the preservation of Harvard’s mineral collection and has secured millions in grants to fund her initiatives, making her a pivotal figure in the development of modern mineral collections. Her leadership extends beyond the museum walls, serving on national boards, advising academic programs, and fostering collaborations with international research communities. Passionate about the intersection of science and public education, Raquel continues to drive innovative curatorial practices that ensure the long-term stewardship of invaluable natural history collections, while inspiring the next generation of geoscientists.
