TheJamesM.HarrisonAwardforOutstandingAchievementwasestablishedbytheIUGSExecutiveCommitteein2004tohonorinpidualswhohaveservedtheUnioninanextraordinaryfashionforalongperiodoftime,andwhohavenorecognizedpositionasanofficeroftheUnion.TheawardisnamedforthelateJamesM.Harrison,aninternationallyknownanduniversallyrespectedCanadiangeologist(GeologicalSurveyofCanada)whowasoneofthefoundingfathersoftheIUGSanditsfirstPresident(1961-1964).
