Raquel Alonso-Perez, Ph.D., FGA is at the helm of one of the world’s most important mineral collections, serving as Curatrix of the Mineralogical and Geological Museum at Harvard University. Her role is complex, encompassing research stewardship, educational leadership, and the crucial work of developing the world-class Earth Science collections. This position requires a rare blend of scientific expertise and leadership, which she has cultivated through an impressive educational background: a B.S. from Granada and a Ph.D. from ETH Zurich. Dr. Alonso-Perez is a recognized specialist in optical mineralogy and gemology, and her personal research on the geology and mineralogy of gem deposits is deeply integrated into her curatorial approach. Her dedication ensures that the Harvard collectio...