During the Gordon Research Conference on High Pressure, the Van Valkenburg Award is given to an early career scientist (defined as within 10 years from completion of PhD with appropriate extensions for career interruptions or exceptional personal circumstances) working in the area of high pressure. This Award is named after Alvin Van Valkenburg, inventor of the diamond anvil cell and one of pioneers in the field of high-pressure research.

See Van Valkenburg's obituary by G. J. Piermarini [Alvin Van Valkenburg and the diamond anvil cell, High Press. Res. 11, 279 (1993)].