
Every year, beginning in mid-January and ending in mid-February, the largest “gem, mineral, and fossil show” in the world is held in Tucson, Arizona, which brings attendees from nearly 200 countries to our community. The scope of the over 50 shows in terms of its impact on southern Arizona’s economy is profound. Few residents realize just how big this show actually is and the effect it has, not just for two months but throughout the year, such as the opening in July 2021 of the University of Arizona’s Alfie Norville Gem & Mineral Museum in downtown Tucson at the historic Pima County Courthouse, that brings visitors to our community year-round. This has inspired numerous gem, mineral, and fossil dealers to store their products in the metropolitan area and establish a year-round presence in Tucson to service their clients worldwide.
Bio of Speaker:
Alex became interested in gems and minerals as a seven-year-old who believed he had struck it rich for his family by discovering gold and silver in New York City’s Central Park! This began a solely needed education in mineralogy provided by the curator of gems and minerals at the American Museum of Natural History who mentored him for over a decade on how to identify and curate minerals, before moving to the southwest to begin his college education.
Eventually, his knowledge of minerals and their effects on human health led to numerous discoveries such as the role of zinc status on the development of Parkinson’s disease or how this essential mineral’s deficiency can contribute to cognitive dysfunctions in patients suffering from life threatening eating disorders as anorexia nervosa and bulimia. His vast knowledge of minerals was published in four editions of Minerals, Trace Elements, and Human Health, and over 200 peer-reviewed scientific papers and chapters, and 23 books.
A former research director and professor of nutraceutical research and botanical medicine, he currently is a research associate at the Bio5 Institute and the Department of Geoscience at the University of Arizona.
For over 35 years Alex has been a judge of competitive displays of minerals at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society’s annual show held at the Tucson Convention Center. He also served as Vice Chair of the University of Arizona’s Gem and Mineral Museum Advisory Board from the day the university’s new gem and mineral museum was conceived.
The Founder and CEO of AIBMR Life Sciences, Alex believes pursuing physically challenging passions throughout one’s life is important to maintaining one’s health. He and his wife, Laura, for example, are Certified United States Track and Field Officials (USATF). Last year they were invited to officiate the first Women’s World Decathlon Championships hosted by the United States held concurrently during the men’s decathlon at the Paris Olympics. When they are not traveling around the country officiating track and field meets or meets hosted by the University of Arizona, you will find them removing Buffelgrass and other invasive grasses that threaten the biodiversity of the Sonoran Desert at Saguaro National Park or along the Canada del Oro Wash.
Lastly, Alex has a notable history with Rotary as a Paul Harris Fellow and chair of numerous committees of Rotary No. 8, in Tacoma, Washington, during a span of nearly 20 years, and more recently as a founding member of the Rotary Club of International Exchange, District 5190, in Reno, Nevada.