sign in sign up
<<
Home , History of geology, John Rodgers (geologist)

2006 Medals & Awards

Rip Rapp in the Department of Geosciences. Under redundancy, Pete saw a big, varied landscape the tutelage of paleoecologist Paul Martin, with abundant evidence of environmental Archaeological vertebrate paleontologist John Lance, change including glacial cirques, pluvial lake Award geochronologist Ted Smiley, and geochemist strandlines, and sand dunes. Pete became Paul Damon, Pete turned his energies interested in understanding how and when Presented to Peter J. Mehringer towards solving “deep mysteries of the these environmental changes occurred, and past”. At Arizona, Pete specialized in pollen how they influenced past human settlement analysis of ancient deposits as a means of and behavior. Following in the footsteps of environmental reconstruction and worked in Henry P. Hansen, Ernst Antevs, and others, the Laboratory where there Pete searched nature’s archives extracting was considerable interest in dating important pollen, charcoal, and other macrobotanical archaeological sites. Thus, Pete soon began remains from a variety of geological and collaborating with archaeologists in trying archaeological contexts including dunes, to understand the environmental context of spring mounds, caves, lakes, and marshes. In archaeological sites. Although pollen analysis many of these ecological repositories were was well established in archaeological layers of volcanic ash that Pete recognized as research in northern Europe, it had been important chronostratigraphic markers that relatively uncommon in North America prior could be used to help correlate archaeological to the 1960s. However, it soon became clear sites and date environmental changes. Pete that palynology had much to offer New World became involved in several archaeological archaeologists, including the reconstruction of projects including the Steens environment and human subsistence. Prehistory Project and excavations at Hidden Peter J. Mehringer Many and palynologists Cave. When it came time for the Great Basin Washington State University thought pollen records in alluvium of volume in the Smithsonian Handbook of the Southwest were useless because of North American Indians series to be written, redeposition, but Paul Martin found he could Pete Mehringer would author the chapter on get reproducible results. So Pete, with Vance prehistoric environment. Citation by Haynes, reopened the Lehner Clovis site In 1971 Pete moved to Pullman, Gary Huckleberry and Vance Haynes in 1963 and produced a stratigraphically Washington where he was hired as an Studies in paleoecology have recently controlled pollen sequence through the Associate Professor in the Anthropology gained attention primarily due to concerns Pleistocene-Holocene transition. This Department at Washington State University regarding climate change and its effects on success led to work at other alluvial sites (WSU). The Department had recently created ecosystems. To fully understand the nature and eventually to Pete’s remarkable success a Quaternary Studies Option and assembled of current global changes, we require a at the Tule Springs site in southern Nevada. an interdisciplinary faculty where students historical frame of reference that provides He showed if adequate pollen is preserved in could receive training in geoarchaeology, insight into the natural range and speed of a properly defined alluvial sequence, it can zooarchaeology, and palynology. Pete found ecological change. Whereas the relevance provide useful evidence of climate change for a home in the Palouse and for decades was a of paleoecology to modern society has only environmental reconstruction. When Pete and guiding force for the department’s renowned recently received publicity, its importance to Vance discovered the Murray Springs Clovis environmental archaeology program. At the paleoanthropological and archaeological site it was going to provide the “rosetta stone” WSU, Pete held a joint appointment with the communities has long been recognized. for unraveling late Quaternary paleoclimate Geology Department and taught a variety To fully understand human and change in southern Arizona. Probably Pete’s of classes ranging from palynology to the behavior, one must consider the nature of past greatest disappointment was the near total fundamentals of Western Civilization. Still environmental changes. Thus it is no surprise absence of pollen from all of the Murray legendary among his past students are the that an important part of geoarchaeological Springs strata. Not giving up, Pete with famous Mehringer marathon fieldtrips research is environmental reconstruction, and David Adam and Paul Martin went on to through the Intermountain West that stretched one man who has contributed much to this produce a nearly complete paleoecological from Pullman to the Arizona-Mexican Border. endeavor is Peter J. Mehringer, winner of reconstruction for human occupation of the While at WSU, Pete chaired six doctoral this year’s Rip Rapp Archaeological Geology region. dissertations and 14 master theses, served on Award. After completing his Ph.D., Pete headed dozens of MA and Ph.D. committees, and Pete is the classic interdisciplinary north and began his academic career in the survived hundreds of faculty meetings. scientist. His bachelors and masters degrees Department of Anthropology at the University Pete expanded his research in the Pacific are in zoology and , respectively, of Utah. This placed him on the margins of Northwest and northern Rocky from California State College, Los Angeles, the Great Basin, an area where he had earlier working in a diversity of settings. At the where he became involved in public health worked as graduate student at Tule Springs Mannis Mastadon Site on the Olympic research focusing on disease transmission in the Las Vegas Valley. Little did he know Peninsula, Pete helped to reconstruct climate by rodents and insects. Research whetted that the Great Basin would become the focus and vegetation following the retreat of his appetite for further learning, and in the of his lifelong career in paleoecological and Cordilleran ice. In eastern Washington, the early 1960s Pete came to the University geoarchaeological research. Whereas some focus was on cores from lakes and of Arizona to pursue a Ph.D., this time look at the Great Basin and see desolation and marshes and the reconstruction of vegetation

The Geological Society of America 2006 Medals & Awards following the last of the infamous Channeled in the rise and fall of the Mayan Empire. In site (American Antiquity 1965). Dick Shutler Scablands floods. In 1987 when the East his recent Quaternary Research paper, Pete encouraged me to cut interdisciplinary Wenatchee Clovis Cache was discovered in and his colleagues shed light on the timing teeth on the search for the truth of earliest central Washington, Pete took the initiative and geographic extent of prehistoric volcanic Americans at Tule Springs, Nevada. to carefully excavate the site and establish eruptions, including the catastrophic Ilopango Meanwhile at Washington State stratigraphic age-control. A dearth of carbon event that caused death and destruction in University, Dick Daugherty established suitable for 14C dating limited attempts to parts of El Salvador and adjacent Guatamala an archaeology-based interdisciplinary date the site. However, detailed granulometric in the third century A.D. Quaternary Studies Option. Certainly—for analyses and Pete’s keen eye led to the It is impossible to adequately summarize me—the University of Arizona had been the discovery of fine-sand pumice fragments the many accomplishments Pete Mehringer right place at the right time. Luck struck a in the soil matrix directly underneath the has made to the fields of geoarchaeology and second time when I joined Bob Ackerman, artifacts. These pumice fragments were paleoecology. His mark has been made in Henry Irwin, Frank Leonhardy, Roald chemically correlated to the 11,200 14C yr many ways, from his numerous publications Fryxell, and Carl Gustafson in professing B.P. Glacier Peak event indicating that the to his cadre of students who today are doing holistic notions of human history. At WSU I cache was interred shortly after the eruption. their part to unravel “secrets of the past”. learned from all of them, from ensuing WSU If Pete wasn’t dating archaeological Fortunately, Pete is still active and continues Anthropology Department geoarchaeologists sites with tephra, then he was dating tephra to do research from his outpost in southeastern (Fred Nials, Fekri Hassan and Gary with his lake cores. Indeed, Pete’s has Oregon. He is an international scholar whose Huckleberry), and from their students. contributed much to understanding the age, work continues to represent the highest Several colleagues remain generous with distribution, and of numerous standards of science. Thus we are pleased their knowledge and cooperative in research late-Quaternary volcanic eruptions in the to announce that Pete Mehringer is the 2006 (Nick Foit, Ken Verosub, and Andrei Sarna- Pacific Northwest and beyond. Not content recipient of the Rip Rapp Archaeological Wojcicki). with pollen, charcoal, and tephra, Pete Geology Award. Broader horizons came through considered detrital remnant magnetism of associations with Fred Wendorf ‘s projects in lake and their variation through the eastern Sahara, Fekri Hassan’s studies in time. His paleomagnetic research on lake Response by Peter J. Mehringer northwestern Egypt, and Jay Hall’s invitation core sediments has helped reconstruct late- Upon receiving the 1954 Nobel Prize for to study past environments in Central Quaternary secular variation in the ’s Literature Ernest Hemingway responded by American. Mel Aikens introduced me to geomagnetic field. deferring to others whom he felt should have archaeology in China. Although Pete is perhaps best known been considered before him; they included From my first Ph.D. student (Ken for his work in western North America, he Carl Sandberg and Karen Blixen. Never—in Petersen, who studied changing Holocene has also worked in Asia, Africa, and Latin my wildest dreams—did I expect to receive environments of southwestern Colorado) America. In the 1970s he made several trips to the Rip Rapp Award, and my response mirrors to the last (Bill Lyons, who established North Africa collaborating with the Egyptian that of Hemingway’s. sources of tool stone and pottery temper in in helping to reconstruct Though surprised—flabbergasted southeastern Oregon), students brought varied late Quaternary environments. Working with even—I am honored to join the illustrious views and enthusiasm to classes, fieldwork Fred Wendorf in 1973, Pete was captivated list of those achieving this recognition. I am and research. They remain sources of pride, by the hyperarid eastern Sahara. He produced much inclined, however, to share the acclaim information and inspiration. useful paleoecological reconstructions based with those who supported me along the way. So, there you have it. Through upon pollen and stratigraphy at remote Foremost among them is Paul S. Martin. John serendipity of time and place, and the oases of Merga and Selima in northern Lance and Paul Damon, the other members of interdisciplinary visions of Ted Smiley and Sudan and at Birqet Qarun in Egypt. In the my University of Arizona Ph.D. committee, Dick Daugherty, I am privileged to share the process Pete became an expert driver of tolerated and encouraged me through those Geological Society of America’s 2006 Rip Volkswagen “Things” in negotiating the stimulating years when the cult of Antevs, Rapp Award with mentors, colleagues and hyperarid desert. Many young scientists of the causes of arroyo cutting, and the intensity students of nearly five decades. the Egyptian Geological Survey profited from and timing of Holocene climate change were Thank you. his instruction. Another great disappointment foremost on the minds of Southwestern for Pete was the loss in transit of all of the archaeologists. The combination of advisors stratigraphically controlled samples from from biogeography, vertebrate the 1981 field season in Sudan and Egypt. and isotope could not have Somewhere someone acquired a large crate come to pass without the vision of Ted Smiley in a ship’s container filled with many bags of who instigated and guided the fledgling sediment. Containing no gold or silver, they multidisciplinary Program in Geochronology. were probably discarded in disgust. As graduate students, Vance Haynes and Later, Pete traveled to China and I spent fun-filled hours walking Southwestern collaborated with scientists as he visited the arroyos seeking secrets of the past. We hit the archaeological remains of past dynasties. jackpot at Murray Springs, Arizona. Vance’s Most recently, Pete has worked in Central tutelage brought initial understandings of America, extracting lake cores to help alluvial stratigraphy, chronology, and early archaeologists reconstruct and understand man archaeology. Emil Haury sanctioned past environmental dynamics and their role our renewed efforts at the Lehner Mammoth

The Geological Society of America 2006 Medals & Awards

Gilbert H. Cady Jim Hower is a dedicated teacher. He is I have been fortunate to have worked an Adjunct Professor at the Department of in a dynamic environment at the Center for Award Earth and Environmental Sciences, University Applied Energy Research. There are a few Presented to James C. Hower of Kentucky and serves on M.S. and PhD geologists at the CAER, but it is mostly theses committees in geology departments populated by chemists and engineers. As at universities in the U.S., Australia, New the name implies, it is an applied laboratory, Zealand, and South Africa. He also served as meaning that much of my work was in a mentor in the Center for Applied Energy support of broader projects aimed at the Research’s state-wide high school summer proper utilization of Kentucky coals. In internship program. this context, I have been able to conduct Jim serves the coal geology community continuing studies such as the relationship with distinction. He is the tireless Editor-in of coal and grindability and the Chief of the International Journal of Coal petrology and geochemistry of ashes with Geology, and has successfully broadened the respect to the feed coals. scope of the journal. He is a member of the I have also been extremely fortunate Advisory Scientific Board ofGeologica Acta to have worked with a number of talented and served as an Associate Editor of Organic scientists, not only at my institute and Geochemistry. university, but throughout the world. The Jim Hower’s community service and number of my refereed papers was noted; research have been recognized by many what was not mentioned was that the number James C. Hower organizations. He was Chair, Coal Geology of co-authors is almost as large as the number University of Kentucky Division (1995-1996), and received the of papers. I would not be here without their Division’s 1997 Distinguished Service Award. collaboration. Time does not permit me to He was awarded the Reinhardt Thiessen Medal name every one of my collaborators, but (ICCP), the Gordon H. Wood, Jr. Memorial I must mention Garry Wild, who worked Citation by Leslie F. Ruppert Award (AAPG), and the Outstanding with me at the CAER for 16 years until Kentucky Award (AMPG). his retirement. Among the many others, The recipient of the 2006 Geological It is time for us to honor Dr. James C. I have been fortunate to collaborate with Society of America’s Coal Geology Division Hower’s numerous, significant, and ongoing geochemists such as Jingle Ruppert and Bob Gilbert H. Cady Award is Dr. James C. Hower contributions to the field of coal geology with Finkelman; palynologists such as Cortland in recognition of his significant and lasting our highest honor, the Gilbert H. Cady Award. Eble and Charles Helfrich; and petrographers contributions to the field of coal geology such as Alan Davis, Maria Mastalerz, and through research, service, and teaching. Adrian Hutton. I also want to thank all of my With expertise in coal petrography and his Response by James C. Hower students: graduate, undergraduate, and high current position as Editor-in-Chief of the I am deeply honored to be receiving school. Special thanks must go to my wife, International Journal of Coal Geology, Jim the Gilbert H. Cady Award. I never knew Judy, for supporting my career. is regarded as one of coal geology’s most Gilbert Cady, but feel connected to him and Thanks again to the Coal Geology forceful advocates. to the award. My first supervisor in Kentucky Division for recognizing my contributions to Jim Hower has worked in almost every was Gilbert Smith, who had been a graduate the profession with this, their highest honor. aspect of coal geology, including inorganic student working with Aureal Cross at West petrology, coal quality, coal combustion Virginia University and later was trained in by-products, and environmental aspects of thin-section coal petrography by Gilbert Cady coal utilization. His work in applied coal at the Ohio Geological Survey. Of course, at and coal combustion by-product petrology Penn State, I was a student of Alan Davis and is the benchmark in the U.S. coal research William Spackman served on my committee. community. He is recognized as the expert in Both gentlemen were previous recipients of Kentucky coal quality variation and has broad this award. I was also influenced by Eugene field experience. Williams and Peter Given while at Penn State Jim and his co-workers have published and Peter continued to give constructive extensively on just about every aspect of coal advice at GSA meetings through the early geology. Jim’s bibliography lists 180 peer- 1980’s. reviewed technical articles out of a total of over 600 publications.

The Geological Society of America 2006 Medals & Awards

E.B. Burwell, Jr. of three-dimensional (3D) physical models Inherent to the value of Martin’s portraying visual associations, as enhanced by presentation is his recognition of the special Award the use of selected coloring schemes. requirements for assessment of existing Presented to Martin G. Culshaw Clearly, this new association of and incoming subsurface geological data computational tools has unlimited potential, so that its inherent nature will stand the but only to the degree that experienced engi- rigors of the expected evolution of computer neering geologists are detecting, evaluating, storage, retrieval and manipulation. Here he assessing, and interpreting the feedstock of the reminds us to take special recognition of the computer manipulation that creates the highly limitations of the “scale” at which our future useful graphic end product. And, without 3D representations are to be made and of the the presence of those same experienced special controls that are represented by the engineering geologists, the end-product Digital Models (DTM) that will, of models are without special merit or value. necessity, govern the practicality of our future And so, Culshaw’s paper is a definitive 3D presentations. guide to the existing qualities and to the There is an element of practical great potential of our new ability to produce projection to the Culshaw treatment, as graphic 3D data assemblages. This is an well. That is, he anticipates a continued essential step for all of us, as the technologies need to assess the particular degree of are new and rapidly changing, but the nature variance of reported engineering properties and direction, for perhaps several decades, of earth material units treated in the 3D Martin G. Culshaw will hardly change significantly. Culshaw’s representations. For these considerations, he British Geological Survey message is that of a menu of tools and a sets the stage for needed research and also for catalog of the existing and incoming banks formal standardization of property-input data. of data that can, and must, be “mined.” The After dealing with the ongoing problem “” of this resource will enable geologists to of property variance, Culshaw rightfully Citation by Allen W. Hatheway meet the expanding threats, not only of natural moves into the matter of representation of For the past 15, or so, years, Martin G. hazards, but of the stresses on the land and the time-dependent change in the character of Culshaw has been in responsible charge of triggering of some geologic processes by our ground to be subjected to 3D characterization engineering geological activities at the British intensified urbanization. modeling. This plays into a further area of Geological Survey. During this time he has Martin’s gross end-product, we see, indicated research and standardization of 3D witnessed and dealt with profound changes is Predictive Ground Modeling by which methodology. That is, to employ the graphic in the functional direction of his agency we can and must move forward from the models as an improvement in various aspects as it has moved to more directly and more Conceptual Geologic Model (largely the fruit of hazards assessment and of their associated effectively serve the citizens of the United of independent work by Peter Fookes in the risks. Again, Culshaw injects the profound Kingdom. These changes were inevitable U.K. and the late (1946-2006) Martin N. Sara need to consider scale effects for individual and there is much to be learned in North of the U.S.A.). With these “real” geologic sites. America about geology in government being models, we learned to embrace from the 1980s The overall Culshaw presentation is a oriented toward serving direct human needs. to today’s “on-demand” graphical-physical carefully assembled assemblage of published This Burwell Award takes special note of models that can be built “in a moment” from examples identify key geologic situations Professor Culshaw’s artful summarization of information science geologic data banks. demanding their own forms of attention, From Concept Towards Reality; Developing Culshaw cloaks the translation of data-bank each to respect the natural and repeatable the Attributed 3D Geological Model of the geologic parameters into 3D models by anomalies and heterogeneities of geologic Shallow Subsurface, prepared as his statement following the three key engineering geologic character that must be understood in setting for delivery of the 7th Glossop Lecture of The elements set down by the late Sir John Knill up not only our subsurface databases, but in Geological Society (London). (AEG Holdredge Awardee, 2003; Core Values) specifying the boundary conditions of the Twenty years ago Martin Culshaw as: 1) The Geological Model; 2) Geological models that will so easily be produced by turned his attention grandly toward the spatial Properties; and 3) Geological Processes. computer manipulation of our databanks. definition of the engineering properties The Culshaw contribution becomes These examples constitute at once both key and characteristics of and soil masses, fundamentally most useful when viewed parameters and caveats for their computer and, in particular, their three-dimensional as a summarization, by methodology and manipulation. Among the caveats, he characterization in the “shallow subsurface.” example, of the geologic data sources now particularly stresses the need to evaluate This was at a time when computer-based at hand and of the tribulations centering on uncertainty. information technology began to achieve the their sustenance and integration. In other In summary, Martin Culshaw has forged capacity of storing vast amounts of geologist- words, computer science has already, in a a comprehensive methodology for 21st generated field data, as reduced to numerical way, advanced beyond our capacities, as century 3D geologic data modeling; a set of parameters. This was a fortunate selection nations and agencies, to take full advantage geologic considerations and circumstances of emphasis for Martin, as digitization of of today’s digital capacities for manipulation essential to accurate applications of 3D existing numerical data and advances in and presentation of actual (“real,” as detected, modeling. These fundamental controls likely computer-based graphics have now become observed, measured and recorded by will not change and therefore will serve to so fruitful as to provide near-instant arrays geologists in the field. guide us in this respect for this entire century.

The Geological Society of America 2006 Medals & Awards

Response by Martin G. Culshaw developed and formalised the idea of the determine how hazard susceptibility will alter conceptual engineering geological model. He with changes in climate, particularly rainfall. I am surprised, delighted and honoured developed this idea further in a subsequent I stress that these maps were based on process to be the recipient of the Edward Burwell, keynote paper with Fred Baynes and John drivers, not previous hazard occurrence. Jr. Award for 2006. I should like to thank Hutchinson at Geo2000 in Melbourne, I realised that these two broad areas of the Award Committee and the Engineering Australia. John Knill presented the 1st Hans applied research together provided the basis Geology Division of the Geological Society of Cloos Lecture at the 9th IAEG Congress in for what should be about. America for making the Award to me. I also Durban in 2002. He attempted to identify So, I suggested that Peter Fookes’ conceptual particularly want to thank Allen Hatheway for engineering geology’s ‘core values’ and models now could be taken towards reality his kind words in his citation. described what engineering geology had in areas with adequate subsurface data and I wrote the paper that enabled me to achieved and what still needed to be done. that the engineering geological model was win the Award for a reason. Engineering Another key influence on the paper was more than a part of John Knill’s engineering geology in the United Kingdom is struggling work carried out by a number of colleagues geological core values but was at the heart of to maintain a meaningful presence in our at the British Geological Survey (BGS), those values. In the new world of digital data universities. There has been an increased particularly Holger Kessler, Dave Bridge and and modelling, the engineering geological emphasis over the last decade, or so, on Simon Price. In about 2001, they began 3D model is a significant part of what engineering ‘excellent blue skies’ research. This has made modelling of the shallow subsurface using geologists do. Furthermore, that model it more difficult to obtain funding for applied software recently developed by Hans-Georg has five dimensions to it: 3D interpretation geoscience research, including in engineering Sobisch (of INSIGHT Geological Software of geological surfaces and the variability geology. As a result, it has come to be believed Systems GmbH). This software enabled of geotechnical properties, the effect of that there are few engineering geological the BGS to use its large-scale, 2D digital geological processes in changing the 3D research needs to fulfil and that engineering geological maps and its extensive borehole model over time (the fourth dimension) and geology is a purely practical activity that log database to produce 3D geological models the many uncertainties associated with the takes place only in the commercial world of the central areas of the twin cities of data and the modelling process (the fifth of building, construction and remediation. I Manchester and Salford. Whilst 3D geological dimension). We have barely begun to apply the believe that this view is misplaced and that modelling is common in the oil industry, the fourth and fifth dimensions to the developing engineering geology is embarking on an lack of appropriate, easy to use software and three dimensional engineering geological exciting new era in its development. adequate data has restricted similar spatial models; also, the models being developed need In 2003, I was invited to become the modelling in the shallow subsurface. It exposing to the hard test of site investigation Geological Society of London’s 7th Glossop soon became apparent that, not only would to determine their place in helping us to Lecturer. This invitation placed on me a we be able to produce realistic 3D spatial understand the ground for development and dual obligation: to present a keynote lecture models, but that we could attribute them regeneration. So, there is plenty for the next and to publish, in the Quarterly Journal of with real geotechnical data which could then few generations of engineering geologists to Engineering Geology and , a be statistically modelled to show potential do! paper based upon the content of the lecture. variation at the city scale. Finally, as well as repeating my sincere Sometimes, lectures of this type can be seen In addition, colleagues and I had thanks to the Engineering Geology Division to be a description of the lecturer’s career completed a series of 2D digital maps showing for this prestigious award, I should like to achievements; in other words, such lectures geohazard susceptibility for six geohazards acknowledge the contribution of my many can be rather backward looking. I did not across the whole of Britain, at a scale of colleagues at the BGS and elsewhere, want to do this; I wanted to look forwards. 1:50,000. These maps were derived using who have played significant parts in the I found my inspiration in the work of two understanding of the geological processes development of the work honoured by the very eminent British engineering geologists, that cause the hazards and digital datasets that GSA. Professor Peter Fookes and the late Sir John enabled the modelling of hazard susceptibility. Knill. Peter Fookes gave the 1st Glossop So, the models have the potential to be used to Lecture, published in 1997, in which he

The Geological Society of America 2006 Medals & Awards

George P. nearly a decade passed before Ken returned recognized by our colleagues in this way is to the subject. During this time, he published quite wonderful. I am particularly happy to Woollard Award on a variety of topics including , have won this award, honoring contributions Presented to Kenneth P. Kodama tectonics and paleo-geomagnetism. But of to geology, because I fervently starting in 1987 came a series of hard hitting believe that good paleomagnetic results will papers written in collaboration with his many be in harmony with good geologic results. students that established first the experimental That belief has been an important motivation basis for compaction induced shallowing throughout my career. of the paleomagnetic inclination recorded As Lisa mentioned in her citation, in sediments, and then perfected a clever I’ve worked on the effects of deformation technique (first proposed by Mike Jackson) for on the accuracy of actually FIXING the problem. over the years, but when I The ability to diagnose and then cure first came to Lehigh University in 1978, I inclination shallowing is incredibly useful didn’t yet have a paleomagnetics lab. The first because shallow paleomagnetic directions course I taught and some of my first research have led to such hypotheses as the Baja British papers were about gravity and magnetics Columbia hypothesis whereby large chunks surveys. It’s particularly interesting that of western Canada are supposed to have George P. Woollard’s 1943 GSA Bulletin originated at the latitude of Baja California, paper on a large gravity and magnetics or that there was something very wrong with survey of New Jersey and vicinity reached Kenneth P. Kodama reconstructions of central China. Which of to Bethlehem, PA where Lehigh is located. Lehigh University these many tectonic interpretations are REAL And in that paper he pointed out that gravity and which are artifacts of unreliable magnetic lows in the area resulted from Precambrian recording requires an independent means of gneiss thrust over lower Paleozoic . assessing the paleomagnetic record and Ken That was the first field exercise I ran with my Citation by Lisa Tauxe has become the champion of an elegant rock geophysics students, a gravity survey over magnetic approach. He has developed the a Precambrian gneiss thrust sheet outlier The Woollard Award was named after idea into a robust and practical technique and north of Bethlehem, so from the start of my a man known for his warmth and generosity applied it to a number of different debates career as a teacher and a researcher I have who was dedicated to the use of geophysics involving unexpectedly shallow inclinations. been indebted to George P. Woollard without to solve geological problems. It is therefore Some studies have supported the claims of realizing it, until now. My advisor, Allan Cox, fitting that this year’s recipient, Kenneth P. far traveled terranes (as in the Baja British was also important to me early on, not just Kodama is not only a creative practitioner Columbia debate) and some have been refuted because he lent me the spinner magnetometer of geophysical applications to geology, but (as in the Tarim basin of China), but the really that got my first lab going, but for his is also a warm and generous colleague, a nice thing about this approach is that the infectious enthusiasm for research. loving husband and father of three wonderful results are pretty much irrefutable. Kodama’s As anyone knows who does scientific children. It is my pleasure to introduce you conclusions have stood the test of time and research, we all depend on our colleagues to him. several have been confirmed using entirely and our graduate students for the inspiration Ken Kodama’s first publication co- independent methods since. and feedback we need to do our work, to authored with his thesis advisor Alan Cox, I don’t want to suggest that Ken is a keep us going. As I think back to the work concerned the effects of deformation on the one trick cowboy by dwelling on the single I’ve done over the years, the most enjoyable magnetization of sediment, a theme to which theme of deformation and the reliability of and exciting part has been working with he has returned many times over the years. paleomagnetic records—far from it. Ken has many different people, and sharing the joy of He has by now written dozens of articles on also written papers on a wide variety of topics discovery, even the setbacks that inevitably the general subject of deformation and the including seismology, geochronology and occur, with people who have similar values, reliability of the paleomagnetic record. most recently, limnology. But I do think that who love to find out new things about the Earth. Why is this theme worthy of such the persistence, concentration and tenacious Of course, I didn’t get to this point sustained interest? The assumption that rocks focus on this issue is his greatest achievement working in a vacuum, I have worked with retain a faithful record of the magnetic field and makes him an excellent choice for this many great graduate students and colleagues, allows a tremendous variety of applications year’s George P. Woollard Award. more than I can name here. I would like to to geology from tectonic reconstructions, to mention, in particular, Gwen Anson, John characterization of the secular variation of the Stamatakos, Gay Deamer, Wei Wei Sun, geomagnetic field. Without this assumption, Response by Kenneth P. Kodama Xioadang Tan, and Yeon Kim, as contributing many avenues of paleomagnetic research significantly to the work we did on inclination lead to the embarrassment of erroneous Thank you, Lisa, for your kind words and shallowing, and colleagues Bob Butler and results. Kodama’s focus on the effect of to the rest of the committee for nominating Lisa Tauxe for their encouragement through deformation on the paleomagnetic record me for the George P. Woollard Award. I am the years. Finally, my family has been a great therefore sheds light on the very foundations truly honored to receive this award from the source of support, particularly my wife, Anna. of paleomagnetism and its utility to geology. Geophysics Division of the Geological Society Thank you again, for this wonderful After the first, seminal publication of of America. We all do science because of honor. deformation in sedimentary rocks in 1978, our passion for its creative outlet, but to be

The Geological Society of America 2006 Medals & Awards

Mary C. Rabbitt (that the geology of the world would turn out a Guggenheim Fellowship. She integrates to be simple) and includes his first jottings on history of geology in her courses and has HISTORY OF transmutation. The 1987 collection (Charles directed student theses on the subject., and GEOLOGY AWARD Darwin’s Notebooks, 1836-1844: Geology, was the Founding Director of the Program Transmutation of Species, Metaphysical in the Human Context of Science and Presented to Sandra Herbert Enquiries) is strong on geology precisely Technology (2001-2006) at UMBC.. because she was part of the project. It presents What of the future? During academic his thoughts on the species question, geology, year 2006-2007, Herbert will be resident scientific methods, and human nature under at Cambridge University, working on two one cover. major projects involving in part a detailed Herbert’s master work , study of Darwin’s 4,000 specimen geological Geologist appeared in 2005 from Cornell collection at the Sedgwick Museum. University Press. It engendered considerable First, she will serve as a consultant on an discussion at the Society exhibition planned to commemorate the 200th meeting last year, praised by historians of anniversary of Darwin’s birth and the 800th (who regard Darwin as “their guy”) anniversary of Cambridge University Second, and historians of geology. Sally Newcomb she will be extending her work on Darwin calls the book as “superb”. The book argues as a geologist past 1860. This year will be that Darwin’s evolutionary thinking was supported by the University of Maryland greatly influenced by his field work and (Baltimore County), Cambridge University, writing as a geologist. Herbert also deals with and the National Science Foundation. In Darwin’s geological writings on their own addition, Herbert plans to join an expedition Sandra Herbert terms, placing him in the context of other to the Galapagos that will resurvey the James University of Maryland, Baltimore County English and continental geologists of his Island site that Darwin visited. We eagerly time. Some have stated that Herbert’s book await the results of these studies, confident is the last word on the subject, but I think they will be as insightful as her scholarly it will stimulate more research and writing contributions to the history of geology to Citation by Michelle L. Aldrich about Darwin and geology by geologists date. and historians, and will invigorate the study Professor Sandra Herbert has received of other 19th century geologists. This is a the Mary C. Rabbitt History of Geology rich book, heavily illustrated (something she Response by Sandra Herbert Award on the basis of her scholarly work on learned from geologists). Thank you for giving me the Mary C. Charles Darwin as a geologist. Charles Darwin, Geologist, while Rabbitt award for 2006. Dr. Herbert is a professional historian published only a year ago, has already met I would like to begin by saying how (BA in Interdisciplinary Studies, Wiitenberg widespread acclaim in scientific, historical, important it is important for historians of University; MA and Ph.D., History of Ideas, and popular journals. Historians (Michael geology to recognize Charles Darwin’s work Brandeis University). She started research Ruse, Paul Lucier, and Sheila Ann Dean) and as a geologist. Geology as a discipline is on a dissertation on Darwin’s evolutionary geologists (Leo Laporte, Martin Rudwick and often not credited for its role as a fundamental ideas when she discovered that his field David Oldroyd), some of whom are among science. We are more used to casting biology, notes were full of geological material that the toughest critics in the history of science, chemistry, and physics in that role. However, she needed to understand before she could have published favorable reviews. Metascience if one looks at the role played by geology as treat fully his development as a scientist. devoted a forum to the book, with three providing a foundation for , As she details in her response, she asked for reviewers and a response by Herbert. and for Darwin’s working on the theory of help from colleagues in geologists in Boston Before the book came out, Herbert evolution, geology has served historically as a and Washington DC, meeting with unfailing published a number of articles on various fundamental science. and widespread guidance and enthusiasm. aspects of Darwin’s geological thought in Just how much Darwin was involved She has also enriched her understanding of peer-reviewed journals. This gave her valuable with the then-young science of geology was Darwin’s geology by traveling to the sites he feedback that enhanced the analysis in the a fact that pressed itself on me while I was a visited within the United Kingdom and South book. She has presented numerous papers at graduate student reading my way through his America. scholarly meetings, including GSA. She has manuscripts from his service as naturalist— Her first two books were editions of been active in the History of Science Society, and geologist—on H.M.S. Beagle in 1831- notes that Darwin kept before he composed HESS, and the history of science section of 1836. Geology seemed central to him, even Origin of Species. Darwin’s handwriting the AAAS. Herbert has had a distinguished within the realm of his dreamiest imagination. is neat but often difficult to read (although teaching career at the University of Maryland Here he is in a notebook entry written in not as bad as Lyell’s). In addition to making (Baltimore County), moving through the 1838 of the heading “Analysis of pleasure of the transcripts available, Herbert (solo in ranks from Lecturer to Professor in the scenery.” 1980 for the Red Notebook, with others in History Department. She has accomplished I a geologist have illdefined notion of land 1987 for other notes) extensively annotated much of her scholarly work through visiting covered with , former animals, slow the material and provided thoughtful appointments and research grants at the force cracking surface &c truly poetical..... introductions. The Red Notebook contains Smithsonian, Princeton, and abroad, including Darwin’s most sweeping geological statement

The Geological Society of America 2006 Medals & Awards

In 1838 Darwin had already committed and analyzing Darwin’s contributions as a Students are also one’s colleagues. I’d himself to the idea of evolution but still geologist like to thank Drew Alfgren, who is receiving he identified himself as “I a geologist.” In my own studies, I have looked the award in my stead. Drew’s thesis (under And geology was his primary affiliation for partners. I would particularly like to the direction of my UMBC colleague Joe professionally. He served as secretary to the thank professors of geology from Boston Tatarewicz) was entitled “From Continental Geological Society of London. University, George Washington University, the Drift to : The Great Debate Another intriguing feature of Darwin’s Smithsonian Institution, and the University in Geology, A Selective Review of the identity as a young scientist is that he did not of Maryland College Park who allowed me Literature.” My student Cathy Barton worked succeed at everything he touched: his early to audit their courses. Tony Coates, Nicholas with the Marie Tharp papers at the Library theory of a “simple” geology went unrealized. Hotton III, and Eileen McLellan welcomed a Congress. A portion of her thesis entitled It was an honest over-reaching, and corrected newcomer to their field. And what was doing “Marie Tharp, Oceanographic Cartographer, by the work of other geologists at the time. geology like for an historian? An intellectual and Her Contributions to the Revolution in the This is science in action: sometimes ideas and aesthetic pleasure. “To the field” the Earth Sciences” was published in The Earth succeed, sometimes they fail. Darwin may nineteenth-century giants of geology cried, Inside and Out: Some Major Contributions seem more ordinary as a geologist than as a and I heartily echo their sentiment. It has been to Geology in the Twentieth Century (2002). biologist: his impact on the two sciences was a pleasure to explore the natural world in the Another student Eric Brown graduated not of equal magnitude. But that aspect, to me, company of geologists. from UMBC and is now writing his Ph.D. emphasizes the human side of science, as well On the writing side I wish to credit David dissertation at Princeton University. The as the resilient nature of disciplines. Many Oldroyd for encouraging me as he has done working title of his dissertation—very much people make an effort, and proper effort and so many historians of geology, and Michele in the spirit of Mary C. Rabbit’s work—is method eventually yields good results. Aldrich, Jim Fleming, and Ellis Yochelson for “Making Scientific: Epistemology and What’s next? I would emphasize setting an encouraging example close to home. Practice in 19th Century .” that there is still more to do on Darwin This summer Ellis and I were working on an Last I want to thank my family. My as geologist. For example, his complete exhibit proposal on “Darwin as Geologist” husband Jim Herbert put on his hiking geological notes from the “Beagle” voyage, for the National Museum of Natural History boots and has gone with me on geological which are extensive and coherent, have not yet on the Mall. His enthusiasm—phone calls, excursions, and our daughters Kristen been transcribed and published, and the actual e-mailing, meetings—kept me at the task. I and Sonja Herbert grew up surrounded by specimens from the voyage await adequate was looking forward to putting in his hand photocopies of manuscripts and were known treatment the photographic material for the exhibit the on occasion to annotate Darwin’s texts with As to potential new researchers, may I week he passed away. I hope someone at the crayoned drawings of their own. call on the group assembled here: historians Smithsonian will continue his interest in doing Thank you all. of geology. Ideally it is general historians, an exhibit on Darwin and geology. The public historians of science, and geologists working deserves to know about Darwin’s work on together who are best suited for identifying reefs and volcanoes as well on pigeons.

The Geological Society of America 2006 Medals & Awards

O.E. Meinzer Award At a recent workshop that focused on codes, that Berkeley has been able to assume applications of TOUGH2, the following a leadership position in the emerging field Presented to Karsten Pruess application areas had entire sessions devoted of geological storage for carbon mitigation. to them: Geothermal Reservoir Engineering, Karsten’s is, by far, the best simulation work Fracture Flow, Vadose Zone , being done in this field, and it will certainly Nuclear Waste, Mining Engineering, Reactive be used to inform important policy decisions Transport, Environmental Remediation, related to climate change. and Gas Transport. These topics represent I will end by commenting that I have virtually all of the important problems in had students, postdocs, and even colleagues hydrogeology that involve complex fluid at Princeton who have contacted Karsten with flows, and all are being addressed by users of questions about TOUGH2, and with more this software. For this contribution alone, I general questions about thermodynamics, could easily argue that Karsten is deserving of multi-phase flow, and numerical methods, and the Meinzer Award. However, even though the Karsten has always taken the time to answer TOUGH2 family of codes has certainly been all of their questions, doing so in his usual an enormously important contribution, it is quiet and unassuming way. I am sure that only part of what brings us here today. In fact, many others across the country, and across to me, even more impressive are the scientific the world, have had the same experience. To Karsten Pruess studies that Karsten has produced. These me, Karsten embodies the best in research Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory studies have provided fundamental scientific and scientific study: he produces outstanding insights into the most difficult and important science, he works on problems that have problems that we face in hydrogeology. tremendous societal impacts, and he does so Karsten’s first hydrogeology research with humility, grace, and quiet confidence. Citation by Michael Celia focused on geothermal systems, which was It really is my honor to introduce this year’s a natural extension of his background in winner of the O.E. Meinzer Award, Karsten Today I have the honor, and pleasure, physics. After working on this problem for the Pruess. to introduce Karsten Pruess of Lawrence better part of a decade, Karsten began to work Berkeley Laboratory, winner of the 2006 on other problems involving non-isothermal O.E. Meinzer Award. For more than 25 years, and multi-phase flow in porous media. These Response from Karsten Pruess Karsten has been at the forefront of scientific included high-level radioactive waste disposal, Thank you, Mike, for this very studies of complex problems involving fluid steam injection to remove non-aqueous-phase generous citation. Looking over the list of flow in natural porous media. His research liquid (NAPL) contaminants, multi-phase past recipients, I am greatly humbled to be tool of choice has been advanced numerical flow in fractures, the role of preferential flow selected for the Meinzer award. I have always simulation, using computer codes that he in unsaturated soils, fundamental numerical felt that the work I was doing offered its himself has developed, and which he has simulation methods for multi-phase and own rewards, plenty of them, nothing more generously shared with others. Karsten’s unsaturated-zone flow systems, and the needed, really. When Kip Solomon called me work has strong scientific content, important incorporation of geochemistry into non- last May about the Meinzer award, this came practical value, and has impacted and isothermal multi-phase simulations. And as a big surprise. Being appreciated by ones involved many other researchers. His choice most recently, he has been working on the professional peers is very gratifying. I am as this year’s recipient of the Meinzer Award problem of injection of supercritical CO2 for delighted and humbled by this expression of adds prestige to an already very prestigious the purpose of carbon mitigation, where the appreciation. award. idea is to capture CO2 before it is emitted It may come as a shock to this audience, Karsten earned his PhD in Theoretical to the atmosphere, and inject it into deep but I never took a class or seminar in any Physics in 1972. I guess this explains subsurface formations so that it remains out segment of the Earth Sciences. My degree why he knows so much physics—and of the atmosphere for hundreds to thousands was in physics, with some math and thermodynamics! Karsten arrived at LBL in of years, or more. Karsten has taken a leading chemistry thrown in, and it was as a young 1975 as a Research Fellow in the Nuclear role in the scientific investigations of the nuclear theorist that I first came to Berkeley Theory Group, where he spent the next hydrogeological aspects of this strategy. He in 1975. A couple years later I made a career two years. Then in 1977, he joined the and his coworkers have looked particularly change. I decided that I wanted to involve Earth Sciences Division at LBL, and much at storage capacities and the influence of myself in a more applied scientific-technical to our benefit, he has remained in Earth subsurface heterogeneities, at possible leakage field, and looked around for opportunities Sciences ever since, working on the “hard” pathways and their impact on the efficacy of at the Lawrence Berkeley Lab. During these problems in hydrogeology for more than the approach, at geochemical responses of the explorations I ran into Paul Witherspoon, 25 years, producing more than 125 journal system and the overall long-term fate of the and the rest, as they say, is history. Paul papers across a range of important topics, injected carbon, and at the complex role of was professor of geological engineering and leading the field of applied scientific phase-change and thermodynamics on possible at Berkeley and head of the newly formed computing. catastrophic releases to the land surface. It Earth Sciences Division. He presided over As I have already mentioned, Karsten is largely due to the scientific strength of an operation that at the time was almost is the author of the TOUGH2 family of Karsten, and the accumulated body of work exclusively focused on geothermal energy, computer codes. TOUGH2 is among the that is imbedded in the TOUGH family of it was the aftermath of the 1973 oil shock, most widely used simulator in the world.

The Geological Society of America 2006 Medals & Awards and what he told me about the challenges Let me conclude with a few brief and opportunities in this area sounded very comments on computer modeling and seductive. Being trained in a rigorous field of simulation, my tool and field of choice. science I did have some concerns, however, I am aware that modeling is viewed with about what I might be getting into. These considerable skepticism by some, be they concerns were laid to rest when I met Chin-Fu technical people or in some managerial role. I Tsang, a nuclear physicist like myself, who have made a career out of modeling, but please had made the switch to Earth sciences about count me in among the skeptics. Computer a year earlier. Wondering out loud whether modeling has often been oversold. It is a Earth sciences was more-or-less driven powerful tool, but it is only through keen by “seat of the pants” intuition, Chin-Fu awareness of its limitations and pitfalls that responded with “oh no, we solve differential we can distill worthwhile insights and benefits equations too.” This was rather reassuring to from it. Thank you very much. me. So I plunged into geothermal reservoir studies, and I can truthfully say, I never looked back. I continue to be amazed by the intricacy, complexity, and—yes!—beauty of fluid flow, heat transfer, and chemical and mechanical processes in these systems, and the subtlety with which mother nature is going about her business. Geothermal systems have remained a passion of mine to this day. In addition to what’s interesting and useful about them in their own right, they provide a rich laboratory to expose you to just about anything that can happen in different contexts underground. I also found that geothermal systems tend to be located in beautiful places, and their study attracts interesting personalities. There are a great many colleagues, in Berkeley, throughout the U.S. and indeed the world, who have freely given me advice and challenged me throughout my professional life. I would like to especially thank two of my Berkeley colleagues who became my Earth sciences mentors, Paul Witherspoon and Nari Narasimhan. Both happen to be past recipients of the Meinzer award, and I am greatly indebted to them for their patient and cheerful guidance.

The Geological Society of America 2006 Medals & Awards

International to test the then available and new models on Response by Eldridge M. Moores tectonic reconstructions of North America and I am deeply honored to receive this Division the evolution of the Antarctic continent. Award. I thank the International Division Eldridge’s service to the Geological Distinguished and the GSA Council. In addition to being Society of America surpasses that of many an officer in the International Division and distinguished geologists. He made Geology Career Award the Cordilleran Section, I have had the as one of the most important, high-impact Presented to Eldridge M. Moores opportunity to serve as Geology editor, a journals in earth sciences through his Councilor, Science Editor of GSA Today, and innovative editorial leadership during the as an officer. While GSA President, I was period of 1981-1988, he was the founding fortunate to travel to Venezuela and Australia Science Editor of GSA Today (1990-1995), at the invitation of their geological societies. and he served on the GSA Council (1988- Overall I have benefited enormously from my 1991) and many other GSA Committees. association with GSA, and I have many friends He served as the President of GSA in 1996 in the GSA family. and then as the President of the International In thinking over how my career Division in 2002. Throughout his long service developed, I owe much to GSA Presidents to our beloved Society, Eldridge promoted the Harry Hess and John Maxwell, and the implementation of many initiatives, ideas, and entire Princeton Geology faculty, who projects, which served GSA so well. treated students like adult colleagues, and Eldridge has also made other had a genuinely global view of geology. significant contributions in the broad field We graduate students spent hours staring at of and tectonics through the 8-foot revolving globe in the Geology his distinguished international service. He museum, discussing burning questions, such Eldridge M. Moores was the Chair of the Ocean Drilling Program as (in those pre-plate tectonic years) where University of California, Davis Tectonics Panel (1989-1993) prompting modern geosynclines might be. We learned marine geologists and geophysicists that Earth’s geology is united; and we can’t to collaborate with land geologists in learn adequately about one piece without investigating the basement tectonics of a view of the whole. This holistic view complex divergent, convergent, and transform Citation by Yildirim Dilek necessarily involved travel abroad, especially plate boundaries in the through for someone like myself interested in structure It is a privilege to present Eldridge deep drilling. His ideas for the site selection and tectonics. Moores as the recipient of the GSA of the Consortium for Continental Reflection My first trip abroad was to Haiti and International Division’s Distinguished Profiling during 1980-1987 were extremely Jamaica in 1960. A tremendous geological and Career Award. During more than 40 years of helpful for the success of this large-scale cultural education for me, it radically revised accomplished research and tireless service to continental project. He was a my understanding of other cultures and the our profession he has established himself as a founding member of the Continental Drilling US’s relations with them; and it whetted my remarkable leader in our profession. Project in Cyprus (1984-1987) to examine appetite for seeing the world. Eldridge has been a true pioneer in frozen magma chambers and MOHO Through my career, I have had the tectonics through his original and often in ancient oceanic lithosphere through deep opportunity to work many times in Greece and thought-provoking work, and his ideas have drilling. He also played a major role in Cyprus, and to a lesser extent in Pakistan and prompted many generations of earth scientists assessing the objectives and implementation Argentina. Altogether, I have been privileged to search for the truth in the field. His seminal planning of the Earth Scope Science and to do field work, go on field trips, attend papers on the Troodos and Vourinos ophiolites Resources as a committee member of the meetings, and visit in about 50 countries. played a significant role in the advancement National Research Council (2001). He is Always, I have been impressed by the open, of plate tectonics as a revolutionary theory currently serving as the Vice President of the generous hospitality and willingness of throughout the early 1970’s. The ideas and the International Union of Geological Sciences, local geologists to share their insights and to tectonic model presented in his 1970 Nature representing the USA and the voice of the US facilitate my own work. For my part, I have paper on “Ultramafics as keys to orogeny, earth scientists in this important international studied local languages and customs, learned with models for the US Cordillera and Tethys” organization. to eat most anything, and appreciated to were so different from the ‘ruling theory’ of Eldridge has shaped our scientific opportunity to interact with people of many that time that they prompted many scientists to thinking through his multi-faceted nationalities. Even so, it has not always been undertake field-based structural, petrological, international contributions during his brilliant easy to deal with lightning strikes, unmapped and geochronological studies in northern career. On a personal note, I am pleased to mine fields, ceasefire lines, border guards, California for the next 15 years. His SWEAT state that I have interacted with Eldridge as his rifle-pointing American Embassy Marine hypothesis (Geology, 1991), suggesting a student, as a colleague, and as his friend for 25 guards, tribal unrest, or more recently, the probable Southwest U.S. and East Antarctic years. It gives me a great pleasure to present Transportation Security Administration Watch connection in the late Proterozoic, was so to you Eldridge Moores, the 2006 winner of List. But looking back, I cherish all my unique and overarching that it had significant the Distinguished Career Award of the GSA experiences, and I’m not done yet!. ramifications for the geodynamic evolution International Division. and global change in the early history of the We live in a multicultural world with Earth. It provided a new paradigm in which many environmental challenges, including

The Geological Society of America 2006 Medals & Awards global warming, peak oil, and resource limits. to be especially aware of our overly large colleagues at UCD and other institutions We geologists have a special responsibility to ”ecological footprint”, and do our best to around the world, with whom I’ve had the use our knowledge and skills to work toward minimize our own personal impact. privilege of working. Finally, I’d like to thank sustainable development for all people, for all Wherever you are in your career, I my wife of over 41 years. Marrying her was Earth and life. When we work internationally, challenge you to make the world a better place just about the best thing that I ever did. My we become diplomats for our countries and than you found it. There is only one Earth--it’s career has been a 2-person career. Without our science. It is increasingly important to our only practical home in the Solar System. Judy, and my kids and grandkids, I would be respectful and sensitive to cultural issues. We have a responsibility to live ourselves the never have made it. Wherever we go, it is essential to reach changes we want to see in the world. Thank you. out to local geologists and include them in In closing I would like to thank my our work in mutually beneficial ways. And former students, with whom I’ve shared those of us who are North Americans need may good times and learned much; also my

The Geological Society of America 2006 Medals & Awards

G. K. Gilbert Award comprehensive data collection, followed different from the spectral behavior of the by exacting data calibration and reduction, Fe-Ni metal component in asteroids. This Presented to Michael J. Gaffey concluded by putting the results of the data work lead to a complete re-evaluation of the analysis into multiple perspectives, large and use of terrestrial spectral analogs in trying to small, long-term and short-term, as well as an analyze asteroid surface compositions from insistence on harnessing the extant geological reflectance spectra. Through these results, it knowledge of , petrology, and is now taken as a given that when terrestrial thermodynamics to give his extended spectral analogs are used in analyzing and conclusions a firm basis. relating asteroid surface compositions Mike Gaffey’s greatest philosophical through reflectance spectra, great care must contribution to asteroid studies is to treat be taken to make sure that the analogs used every asteroid as an individual planet, are accurate to the conditions of the body. an object that also has relationships and Skeptics have said that Mike Gaffey interactions with other objects, both similar “looks too deeply into the data,” meaning and dissimilar, yet still retains a uniqueness that his interpretations go far beyond what that makes it worthy of study on its own. can reasonably be determined from the data. This philosophy has lead to Mike developing I’d like to briefly point out two examples that an observational technique that is unique: show this is not the case. Mike has used his Michael J. Gaffey sub-hemispheric spectral reflectance rotational spectral variation study technique University of North Dakota mapping. The technique is complicated, but on a number of asteroids since 8 Flora, not complex, in that it requires long hours, including 15 Eunomia (Gaffey and Ostro perhaps even many nights, observing a 1987), 3103 Eger (then known as 1982BB single object at a telescope, along with the in Gaffey et al. 1992), 9 Metis and 113 Citation by Michael S. Kelley necessary observations of calibration standard Amalthea (Kelley and Gaffey 2000; Gaffey stars, reducing the raw data to usable, high- 2002). Perhaps his two most famous efforts Bridging interplanetary gaps: quality reflectance spectra, then using extant are for asteroids and 6 Hebe (Gaffey Thirty years of combining laboratory or deriving new rotational parameters and 1983; Gaffey 1997; Gaffey and Gilbert 1997). measurements and telescopic observations relating each individual reflectance spectrum His early analysis of Vesta indicated the The Division of GSA to a point on the asteroid’s surface. These likely presence of large impact craters as well presents the G. K. Gilbert Award annually data are then used in an analysis of the as large basaltic flows that probably were “to an individual who has contributed in mineralogical and petrologic relationships relatively pristine. These conclusions were an outstanding manner to the solution of a on the surface of the asteroid, which are in confirmed when the Hubble Space Telescope fundamental problem of planetary geology.” turn used in a geological and thermodynamic acquired imagery of 4 Vesta in late 1994 The Award is presented for either “a single context to draw conclusions regarding the and showed an extraordinarily large impact outstanding publication or a series of current compositional state of the asteroid as crater near Vesta’s south pole (e.g., Thomas publications that have had great influence well as its possible provenance. et al. 1997, Binzel et al. 1997) and large in the field.” Dr. Michael J. Gaffey qualifies He has used this technique of rotational areas covered in . It is still considered on both criteria. His individual papers on spectral variations on a number of asteroids, amazing that such surface features could be the spectroscopy of meteorite chemical the first of which to be published was an found through careful and comprehensive groups, the connection between at least four analysis of 8 Flora (Gaffey 1984). His results analysis of ground-based, non-imagery data. different meteorite classes and their original indicated that, of all the S-type asteroids One Mike’s most valuable and initially main-belt asteroid parent body locations, known at that time, and thought to be controversial contributions using this and the surficial mapping of 4 Vesta all parent bodies of the ordinary chondrites, technique has been in relating the asteroid qualify as single outstanding contributions. this particular S-type asteroid could not 6 Hebe to the H-type ordinary chondrites Three decades of fundamentally important have been such a parent body. The analysis and Type IIE metal meteorites through contributions further justifies the presentation related the oxidation state of 8 Flora’s mineralogical and petrologic analyses of of this Award to him. composition, through variation in surface rotational variations in spectral reflectance. It has been said among Mike Gaffey’s modal abundances of olivines, pyroxenes, Putting his spectral data into a 3-dimensional former graduate students that Mike does not and Fe-Ni metal, to that of all classes of context allowed him to hypothesize the publish as often as many of his colleagues, ordinary chondrites and found that there was presence of a new type of ordinary chondrite, but what he publishes is usually seminal. no thermodynamic way in which the asteroid one not in any of the collections at the time. This has been true since his first publications could be mineralogically related to any This hypothesis opened Mike up to some (e.g., McCord & Gaffey 1974; Gaffey 1976), member of those meteorite classes. vehement attacks from both the meteorite still referenced today as seminal works in Adverse reaction to his conclusions in community and the asteroid observing reflectance spectroscopy and their use in the 8 Flora paper caused him to investigate community. Due to a deep streak of Irish relating meteorite compositions to asteroid more deeply the spectral behavior of the Fe- luck, however, Mike was vindicated when spectral classes. Mike’s graduate work in Ni metal component in ordinary chondrites a new type of ordinary chondrite was meteorite and asteroid spectroscopy was and found (Gaffey 1986) that the spectral found, Portales Valley, which had just the a precursor and an introduction to what behavior of the metal component in ordinary composition and petrology suggested in the has become a Gaffey process trademark: chondrites meteorites was remarkably paper (McHone et al. 1999). Whether Portales

The Geological Society of America 2006 Medals & Awards

Valley actually comes from 6 Hebe remains his comprehensive knowledge of geology, he has produced and has always been gracious to be seen, but it was a vindication of Mike’s mineralogy, and petrology. in his acceptance of his scientific successes. spectral technique that a meteorite could All of these successes were born from He has always maintained a philosophical actually have the “impossible” composition of an insistence upon using the extant data in a attitude that the data should be the basis for his hypothesis. It is now appears likely that 6 comprehensive and collaborative way with all conclusions and all speculation should be Hebe is the probable source for at least some an emphasis on not over-interpreting any obviously marked as such. of the H-type ordinary chondrites and Type particular piece of data. In this insistence, Fortunately, for the Planetary Science IIE irons. Mike Gaffey has become a vociferous community, Mike Gaffey shows little sign of When Mike Gaffey wants to step back advocate of the proper and careful use slowing down in his research pursuits. He is and look at asteroids in general, as apart of spectral reflectance observations. His an active participant in many ongoing projects from these looks at specific bodies, he occasional reviews on the subject (Gaffey et in addition to his own research. These include also produces seminal scientific work. In al. 1989; Gaffey et al. 1993b; Gaffey et al. rotational studies of M-class asteroids with generalizing about S-type asteroids (Gaffey 2002) have provided increasingly detailed Paul Hardersen, laboratory calibration and et al. 1993a) and the spectral reflectance knowledge regarding the use and avoidance analysis with Ed Cloutis, near-Earth asteroid observations produced, he found that it of the abuse of spectral reflectance data, both studies with Paul Abell, asteroid family would be mineralogically and petrologically for asteroids and other solar system bodies. studies with me, and a variety of projects with impossible for many of the S-types to be the He has successfully passed on this knowledge his present graduate students, just to name a parents of any of the ordinary chondrites. and its concomitant philosophy to a number few. Through deft use of compositional of graduate students, each of whom have gone I am pleased to point out that Gilbert information from spectroscopy related to on to careers in planetary science and industry Award Recipient Mike Gaffey is receiving geologic thermodynamic knowledge he was effectively utilizing these skills. double honors this year. At the annual meeting able to deduce that only a small number of Mike Gaffey views his life in science and of the Meteoritical Society in Zurich in S-types are mineralogically “least unlike” education not as a job or career, but rather a early August Mike was presented with that (his terms) any ordinary chondrite class. As calling. He has only one true goal in his work, society’s highest honor, The Leonard Medal. it turns out, 6 Hebe belongs to this group to produce the best science possible. He has It is only the second time in the history of and thus Mike Gaffey is able to place his proven superbly capable of this goal, both in the two awards that the same person received detailed observations of Hebe into a broader his past achievements and his ongoing work. both in the same year. So we should take this context using his own work, built upon He has never shirked responsibility for errors as confirmation that Dr. Michael J. Gaffey

References (not] comprehensive, in publication order) T. B. McCord, and M. J. Gaffey (1974), Asteroids: Surface Gaffey M.J., Burbine T. H., and Binzel R. P. (1993b) Asteroid Composition from Reflection Spectroscopy, Science, 186:352-355 spectroscopy and the meteorite connection: Progress and Gaffey M. J. (1976) Spectral reflectance characteristics of the meteorite perspectives. Meteoritics, 28, 161–187. classes. J. Geophys. Res., 81, 905–920. Gaffey M. J. (1997) Surface lithologic heterogeneity of asteroid 4 Gaffey M.J. (1983) The asteroid (4) Vesta: Rotational spectral Vesta. Icarus, 127, 130–157. variations, surface material heterogeneity, and implications for the Gaffey M. J. and Gilbert S. L. (1998) Asteroid 6 Hebe: The probable origin of the basaltic achondrites. Lunar Planet. Sci. XIV pp. 231- parent body of the H-type ordinary chondrites and the IIE iron 232. meteorites. Meteoritics & Planet. Sci., 33, 1281–1295. Gaffey M.J. (1984) Rotational spectral variations of asteroid (8) Flora: Kelley M.S.; M.J.Gaffey (2000), 9 Metis and 113 Amalthea: A Genetic Implications for the nature of the S-type asteroids and for the parent Asteroid Pair, Icarus, 144(1): 27-38. bodies of the ordinary chondrites. Icarus 60: 83-114. Gaffey M. J. (2002) Asteroid 113 Amalthea: Nature, origin and Gaffey M. J. (1986) The spectral and physical properties of metal in meteorite affinities of an S(I) assemblage. Icarus, submitted. meteoritic assemblages: Implications for asteroid surface materials. Gaffey M.J., E.A. Cloutis, M.S. Kelley, K.L. Reed (2002) Mineralogy Icarus, 66, 468–486. of Asteroids. In Asteroids III, University of Arizona Press, Tucson, Gaffey M.J., S.J. Ostro (1987) Surface lithologic heterogeneity and AZ. body shape for asteroid (15) Eunomia: Evidence from rotational Binzel, R. P., M. J. Gaffey, P. C. Thomas, B. H. Zellner, A. D. Storrs, spectral variations and multi-color lightcurve inversions. Lunar and E. N. Wells 1997. Geologic mapping of Vesta from 1994 Hubble Planet. Sci. XVIII, pp. 310-311 (abstract). Space Telescope images. Icarus 128, 95–103. Gaffey M.J., J.F. Bell, D.P. Cruikshank (1989) Reflectance spectroscopy McHone J.F., M. Killgore, and E. Killgore (1999) Portales Valley, New and asteroid surface mineralogy. In Asteroids II, (eds. R.P. Binzel, T. Mexico Fall of 13 June 1998: Anomolous Fragment Distribution and Gehrels, M.S. Matthews), University of Arizona Press, Tucson, pp. Composition, Lunar and Planetary Science Conference XXX, paper 98-127. 1964. Gaffey M.J., K.L. Reed, M.S. Kelley (1992) Relationship of E- Thomas, P.C., Binzel, R.P., Gaffey, M.J., Storrs, A.D., Wells, E.N., Type Apollo Asteroid 3103 (1982BB) to the Enstatite Achondrite Zellner, B.H., 1997. Impact excavation on Asteroid 4 Vesta: Hubble Meteorites and the Hungaria Asteroids. Icarus 100: 95-109. Space Telescope results. Science 277, 1492–1495. Gaffey M.J., J.F. Bell, R.H. Brown, T.H. Burbine, J.L. Piatek, K.L. Reed, D.A. Chaky (1993a) Mineralogical Variations Within the S- Type Asteroid Class. Icarus 106: 573-602.

The Geological Society of America 2006 Medals & Awards successfully bridges the gaps between geology Any such honor is seldom the result great debt to past and present students such and astronomy, and between laboratory of work solely by the recipient. In my case as Jeff Bell, Lucy McFadden, Trudie King, meteoritics and asteroid spectroscopic remote it is the result of contributions from many Chuck Farrall, Ed Cloutis, Ted Roush, Andy sensing. people: mentors, teachers and students. Lazarewicz, Pete Holden, Kevin Reed, Mike When his paper entitled “The Early Solar I have been exceptionally fortunate with Kelley, Cathleen Donovan, John Hancher, System” was published, it was rumored that respect to mentors and teachers. I received Paul Hardersen, Paul Abell, Vishnu Reddy, Mike was asked to write it because he had an excellent start from Miss Grace McKenna and Sherry Fieber-Beyer—just to name a few. actually been around to witness the early solar who taught in the one-room country school I must also thank my colleagues system. However, I have it on good authority house where I attended kindergarten through in planetary science for putting up with that Mike was born well after the formation eighth grade. She encouraged curiosity and my ignorance. Being cross-disciplinary of the asteroids. He did begin his critical a love of learning. I was similarly fortunate necessitates that my knowledge in any given observations of planetary bodies at a much in High School with several teachers who discipline is less than that of the specialists earlier age than most of his colleagues. When encouraged innovative and supportive learning in those disciplines. I’ve often said that “I I met Mike’s mother a number of years ago, environments for “sports allergic” nerds such tell the geologists that I’m an astronomer and she told me that Mike’s very first word was as myself. In college my mentor was Dr. the astronomers that I’m a geologist and they “shiny.” She said that he was looking up at James Van Allen who exemplified what it leave me alone”. That’s not entirely a joke, the at the time. So maybe it’s not too meant to be both a world-class scientist and and I thank my professional colleagues for surprising that we’re honoring him today as an outstanding human being. To all of them I their understanding and corrections and for a leading contributor to the field of Planetary owe a vast debt of gratitude. not calling my bluff too often. Science. But perhaps even above those I am most grateful to the Planetary I would like to thank Dr. Kevin L Reed, individuals, I owe an almost immeasurable Geology Division of the Geological Society of another former Gaffey student, for his help in debt to my students. More than anything America for this honor. And when you finally writing this citation. that I can think of, having a steady cadre of discover that it was all a clerical error, you’re highly intelligent and motivated students has going to have to come all the way to North contributed to the success that the Gilbert Dakota to wrest it from my hands. Response by Michael J. Gaffey Award signifies. Especially when they have I am very honored to have been selected the self confidence to require that you to for the Gilbert Award by the Planetary prove your case rather than simply accepting Geology Division of GSA. Reading the list of is as the word from on high. I’ve been lucky previous recipients is a humbling experience. in having many “old hairy” students who And it leaves me with a more than passing haven’t been shy about challenging my ideas concern that some administrative error has and pronouncements. Those interactions resulted in my inclusion in such an august have often been more colleague-to-colleague company. And that pretty soon I’ll get an collaborations than advisor-to-student “Opps, our mistake …” memo from the instruction. And I’ve often gained at least as Division. much as I’ve given in those efforts. I owe a

The Geological Society of America 2006 Medals & Awards

Kirk Bryan Award Presented to David R. Montgomery and Mark T. Brandon

Citation by Glenn David Thackray David Montgomery and Mark Brandon have been awarded the 2006 Kirk Bryan Award for their 2002 paper entitled “Topographic controls on rates in tectonically active mountain ranges” (Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 201, p. 481-489). This an elegant paper that tests long-held ideas regarding topographic controls on erosion rates and advances our understanding of the evolution of mountain ranges. David R. Montgomery Mark T. Brandon Montgomery and Brandon explored the relationship between University of Washington local relief and erosion rates. In considering several tectonically active ranges from across the globe, they found a non-linear relationship between mean local relief and erosion rates, challenging long-held assumptions about the linearity of that relationship. They concluded available topographic data and analytical tools, coupled with published that mountain landscapes adjust to high rates of rock uplift through data on rock uplift, to fill the need for this analysis at a relevant scale. increased incidence of landsliding, itself governed by rock strength. Thirdly, this paper reflects a movement of back to Why is this eight-page paper without original data deserving of the broader scale of landscapes. Landscape-scale geomorphology this prestigious award? First, the paper reveals important relationships was moved to the back shelf decades ago, in favor of greater focus on between topography (namely local relief) and erosion rates that understanding and quantification of surficial processes at much smaller are important for understanding the evolution of mountain ranges. temporal and spatial scales. While that shift has made geomorphology Secondly, this seemingly simple, yet elegant paper advances knowledge a much stronger field in many ways, it is exciting to see efforts once in a one of the most exciting areas of geomorphology, namely the again aimed at the “big picture.” There remains much exciting debate interrelationship between tectonic activity and surficial processes. The about interrelationships of erosion and tectonism. Through this and burgeoning literature in this area demonstrates both rapidly advancing other papers David Montgomery and Mark Brandon have helped knowledge and a need for detailed analysis of Earth surface processes advance this area of inquiry and their efforts are richly deserving of at a variety of scales. Montgomery and Brandon utilize recently this year’s Kirk Bryan Award.

Response by David R. Montgomery Response by Mark T. Brandon Thank you Glenn, for such kind words. I was taken very much by Like Dave, I am surprised and honored by this award. I am surprise when I learned that we had won an award for a paper that grew grateful to Glenn Thackray for the nomination and a thoughtful out of pursuing a point that came up in some now-forgotten argument. citation. I thank my co-author and friend Dave Montgomery for It is a singular pleasure to be honored with the 2006 Kirk Bryan Award initiating this project and doing the heavy lifting that comes with being by so many good friends and great colleagues. So it is with sincere the first author. There were several different threads that lead to the appreciation to the Division and the Society that I accept, along with ideas in our paper. Frank Ahnert was first to show a strong correlation my friend Mark Brandon, an award given previously to many people between local relief and basin-scale erosion rates in his 1970 paper whom I hold in high regard. in American Journal of Science, but that correlation was limited to Despite the rapid growth in geomorphology over my career, I tectonically quiet landscapes. While working in the Olympic Mountains continue to be amazed at how small our community can seem. As I in the 1990’s, Frank Pazzaglia and I spent much time puzzling as was looking at the list of previous Kirk Bryan Award winners I noticed to why Ahnert’s relationship did not work in that tectonically active that many have influenced my career. Dick Iverson (2001) taught the setting. A partial solution was the 1996 Nature paper by Doug Burbank first geomorphology class I took at Stanford in 1982. I shared an office and others, which called attention to the role of threshold slopes in with Clyde Wahrhaftig (1967) at Berkeley when as an emeritus faculty tectonically active landscapes. But, as Dave has already noted, the 1999 member he was relegated to a graduate student office. Steve Porter paper by Josh Roering, Jim Kirchner, and Bill Dietrich on nonlinear (2003) and Link Washburn (1971) were my predecessors as Director’s diffusive transport on hillslopes provided the inspiration for how one of UW’s Quaternary Research Center. And I remember the first words might generalize Ahnert’s empirical relationship. Our interpretation is that , the first Kirk Bryan Award winner (1958), spoke to that in slowly uplifting landscapes, erosion is limited by soil production me at a UC Berkeley departmental holiday party: “What kind of amp is and diffusive transport on the hillslopes, as represented by Ahnert’s that you’re playing through?” relationship, but in well-drained landscapes with fast uplift, erosion Like a nice vintage guitar, great collaborators are hard to find becomes slave to uplift. These ideas are conceptual and only loosely and I thank my co-author Mark Brandon for challenging and engaging tied to the actual processes that erode the landscape at a local scale. discussions along the way in writing our paper. I also want to thank That said, perhaps they will help guide future work on resolving Frank Ahnert for the initial inspiration to think about the relationship how local surface processes interact with tectonics and climate at the between relief and erosion rates in his classic paper on the subject, and regional scale. Josh Roering, Bill Dietrich, and Jim Kirchner for their groundbreaking

The Geological Society of America 2006 Medals & Awards

Response by David R. Montgomery (continued) Response by Mark T. Brandon (continued) work on non-linear hillslope diffusion that directly informed the As some of you know, my research career began with my graduate approach Mark and I took in our paper. Finally, I can think of nothing work in structural geology and tectonics at University of Washington. more fitting to say than a simple, heartfelt thank you for honoring us So you might wonder why a structural geologist would be interested with this distinguished award. in erosion. One reason is that the competition between uplift and erosion determines how a mountain range is exhumed. The other is that spatial gradients in erosion will cause rocks to shear. In other words, erosion may be responsible, at least in part, for some of the deformation fabrics that we see in the exhumed cores of mountain belts. Of course, these ideas and many others have been spawned by a renaissance in tectonics and geomorphology over the last 15 years, for which the broad goal is to understand the interactions between tectonics, climate, and crustal geodynamics. I have enjoyed watching over the many years the important role that University of Washington has had in the development of integrative research in surface processes, geomorphology and tectonics. Dave Montgomery and his colleagues continued to maintain a high profile in this area. In closing, I would like to acknowledge Frank Pazzaglia for his early work with me on Ahnert’s relationship. I am also indebted to those who I have collaborated with over the years on tectonics and geomorphology research in the Olympics Mountains. Frank had a strong hand in that work, as recognized by the Kirk Bryan Award that we shared in 2002. Others include Joe Vance, Mary Roden-Tice, John Garver, Geoff Batt, Ken Farley, Jon Tomkin, Sean Willett, Dick Stewart, Karl Wegmann, and John Gosse, to name a few. Finally, I thank my wife Susan and son Alec for putting up with all of this foolishness about erosion and mountains.

The Geological Society of America 2006 Medals & Awards

Laurence L. Sloss educator award at that same ceremony.) Gerry Friedman are sedimentary geologists Both Sloss and Friedman have authored “cast from the same mold” and “cut from Award landmark textbooks in sedimentary geology. the same cloth,” but I think I’ve made my Presented to Gerald M. Friedman In 1953, Sloss and Krumbein co-authored point. I would be, however, remiss if I failed Stratigraphy and , which is to include in my citation at least a bit about now regarded as a classic in the field. In 1978, Gerry the man in addition to Gerry the Friedman and Sanders co-authored Principles scientist. Gerry is a devoted husband and of , a well received, widely family man. He is the father of five married used, modern compendium that is destined daughters and has 18 grandchildren and 11 to become a classic. Both of these textbooks great-grandchildren. He is a man of high have influenced countless students of values and great integrity; a warm, outgoing, sedimentary geology over several generations generous and compassionate man; a man and continue to do so today. of deep faith; an international geological Both Sloss and Friedman have been ambassador of goodwill as well as a black prolific researchers of the highest caliber. belt in judo. Their journal publications, like their Gerry has stated in his recently textbooks, have been very influential and published autobiography that the best provided new insights and ideas concerning decision he has made in life was to marry the nature and origin of sedimentary rocks, Sue Tyler (Theilheimer) in 1958. Without their depositional environments, diagenetic a doubt, Gerry and Sue have made quite Gerald M. Friedman processes, etc., that have had profound a team over the past decades! Now, in the Brooklyn College and implications for exploration and development middle of his ninth decade, Gerry shows little Northeastern Science Foundation of and energy resources. In one of sign of slowing down. He remains involved, Gerry’s papers, he credits Sloss as being “the productive and is still going strong—clearly, father of sequence stratigraphy.” Michael not yet content to just rest on his well earned Rampino, professor of geology at New York laurels. Tonight, with presentation of the Citation by Larry D. Woodfork University and one of Gerry’s former Ph.D. 2006 Sloss Award to Gerry Friedman, we “The Sloss Award is given annually students, commenting in a recent article recognize another of the stature of Larry to a sedimentary geologist whose lifetime in Geotimes, stated, “I think Gerry is one Sloss in the Pantheon of modern sedimentary achievements best exemplify those of Larry of the people who has invented modern geology. It has been my privilege and distinct Sloss—i.e., achievements that contribute sedimentology.” Although probably best pleasure to serve as his citationist. Ladies and widely to the field of sedimentary geology known for his work on carbonates, Gerry’s gentlemen, let me now present my dear good and through service to GSA.” So reads the 50-page CV lists 500 publications on an friend, our colleague, and an inspiration to us page concerning the Sloss Award at the GSA astonishingly wide range of topics. For their all—Gerry Friedman. web site. To have been judged to meet that outstanding contributions in sedimentary geology, SEPM has bestowed on both Sloss extremely high standard is a great honor Response by Gerald M. Friedman indeed and I know of no one who merits it and Friedman its highest award in that area, more than this year’s Sloss Award recipient— the prestigious Twenhofel Medal. Other Sloss I have lived my life on several levels. Gerry Friedman. Award recipients who have also received the One of my interests is my desire to share with In the limited time available to me Twenhofel Medal are James Lee Wilson, Bob others. In this sharing I feel that Lawrence this evening, let me cite but a few of the Weimer and William Dickinson. (Larry) L. Sloss (1913-1996) has been one many similarities between the nature and Both Sloss and Friedman have had of my partners. In 1966, two months before magnitude of Larry Sloss’ contributions to many former students who have gone on his death we both received the Distinguished and achievements in the field of sedimentary to outstanding careers and high positions Educators Award of the American Association geology and those of Gerry Friedman. in industry, academia and government of Petroleum Geologists in San Diego (Fig.1). Both Sloss and Friedman are among throughout the world. Teresa Jordan, current Larry and I had overlapping interests. In the most gifted, engaging, highly respected, chair of the Department of Earth and my textbook Principles of Sedimentology indeed revered, modern educators to have ever Atmospheric Sciences taught courses in sedimentary geology—Sloss at Cornell and last at Northwestern and Friedman at RPI, year’s recipient of the Brooklyn College and the Graduate School Sloss Award, is but one of CUNY. In recognition of the high regard example. She was one of in which both were held, in 1996 AAPG Gerry’s undergraduate presented both Larry and Gerry with its students at RPI in the Distinguished Educator Award (now named early 70s. the Grover E. Murray Distinguished Educator I could go on and Award) at its annual convention in San on citing many more Diego. (It is also worthy of note that Bob examples and similarities Weimer, a previous Sloss Award recipient, supporting my view also received the AAPG distinguished that Larry Sloss and

The Geological Society of America 2006 Medals & Awards

(Friedman and Sanders 1978) five references students’ awards are most impressive and • Chairman of the New York Academy are cited relating to Larry’s studies. In the include the following: of Sciences and member of the AAPG year 2000 in my paper “about relationship Research Committee: Charlotte Schreiber At the International Level between new ideas and geologic terms in • Chairman of the Outstanding Earth Science • Vice President, International Association of stratigraphy and sequence stratigraphy” in the Teacher Program: John Way Bulletin of the AAPG, I cited him seven times. Sedimentologists: Eli Gavish • The Association of Women Geologists In this same paper Larry has been “hailed • Committees of International Union of awarded its highest honor: Charlotte as the father of sequence stratigraphy”. Geological Societies: Sal Mazzullo, Schreiber Among the strata covering North America, Charlotte Schreiber • Vice President of AAPG: Roy Nurmi Sloss et al. (1949) named four sequences • National Correspondent for Sedimentology, of which the most important at the base International Association of • President of GSA: Victor Baker was the Sauk Sequence. In 1994, the year Sedimentologists: Johannes Schroeder • Vice President of the American Insitute of before Larry’s passing I published a paper on Professional Geologists: Bill Siok Sauk ( Ordovician Sauk platform • Chairman, Program Committee, Tenth carbonates) and in the year of his demise International Sedimentological Congress: • Executive vice-president for exploration (1995) my topic was titled “intra-Sauk karst”. Gedalia Gvirtzman and production and member of the board of After eight years as a senior member of • Secretary, Program Committee, Tenth directors of the Anadarko Company: John the Research Center of Amoco Production International Sedimentological Congress: Seitz Corporation, now BP, in Tulsa, Oklahoma Eli Gavish • Mattson Award (AAPG): Joachim Amthor (Senior Research Engineer, Senior Research • Perez Grader Award, Geological Society of • National Distinguished Service Award of Scientist, and Research Associate and Israel: Eli Gavish the AAPG: Brian Keith and Roy Nurmi Supervisor of Research in Sedimentary • AAPG National Awards in Antonio: Roy Geology), I transferred to Rensselaer At the National Level Nurmi and Joachim Amthor Polytechnic Institute (RPI) wearing two hats: • Associate Editor for American Association one as Professor of Sedimentary Geology and of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin: Joachim • Secretary of AAPG’s House of Delegates: one as Editor of the Journal of Sedimentary Amthor Brian Keith Petrology (now Journal of Sedimentary • American Association of Petroleum • Editorial board of and received the Research). I was publisher of the results Geologists Convention Chairman 2006: Abraham-Gottlob Werner Medal of the of research in sedimentary geology for the Charles Sternbach German Geological Society: Johannes SEPM - Society for Sedimentary Geology. Schroeder • The Sorbie Medalist of the International When I was first elected to the editorship, Association of Sedimentologists: Charlotte • Chairman of the Board of the Geophysical I had just won the Journal of Sedimentary Schreiber Institute of Israel: Gedalia Gvirtzman Petrology’s covetous Best-Paper Award (now • Editorial Board of Leading Edge: Linda Outstanding-Paper-Award) and my task was • chairperson, recipient of Sternbach to guide this journal into the up-coming boom the Lawrence L. Sloss Award at Salt Lake of the 1960s and 1970s. In the late 1950s City 2005 GSA meeting: Terry A. Jordan • Editorial board of the Journal of Editor Jack Hough in his “Editor’s Note on • Leverson Award, American Association of Sedimentary Research: Charlotte the State of the Journal” (1957 p. 476) wrote Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) : Charlotte Schreiber and Sal Mazzulo “...investigators in the field of sedimentary Schreiber • President and CEO. John received the petrology are urged to consider the Journal • Leverson Award: Sal Mazzullo 3x “Living Legend in the Oil Business” award, of Sedimentary Petrology (JSP) as a primary the youngest geologist ever to receive this • Honorary Mention, Outstanding Paper outlet for their manuscripts.” Although honor: John Seitz Award, (Society for Sedimentary Geology) already 26 years old at that time, JSP was yet SEPM: Joel Gevirtz • Secretary-Treasurer of the Society for pedestrian and good papers went elsewhere Sedimentary Geology (SEPM): Sal • Outstanding Paper Award, SEPM: Peter (Geological Society of America Bulletin, Mazzulo Journal of Geology, American Journal of J.R. Buttner • AAPG’s international award at the AAPG Science, and non-U.S. journals). My task • Reprinting by Societies of their previously convention in Rio de Janeiro: Rody was to turn the journal around. This aim was published papers: Eli Gavish and Joel Medeiros (now deceased) accomplished. By 1969, JSP not only had Gevirtz • Membership in House of Delegates of become the leading international journal in • Counselor, Geological Association of AAPG: Ken G. Johnson, Brian Keith, sedimentary geology, but its total published Canada: John W. Kramers pages exceeded that of any volume published and Linda Sternbach • SEPM, Member of Research Committee: before or since. In fact, 21 years later the 1990 At the Regional Level volume published approximately 30 papers David Haglund less than that of 1969. • Heads of Research Groups, SEPM: • Vice-President and Candidate for President, My greatest satisfaction has always been Michael Treesh, Roy Nurmi, and West Texas Geological Society: Jeff Smith in helping others. My motto is “be friendly Charlotte Schreiber • President, Edmonton Geological Society: and helpful.” My mission has included • Chairman of SEPM Research Group: John W. Kramers training students at the undergraduate, Joel Gevirtz • Vice-President, Petroleum Exploration graduate, and post-doctoral levels. My Society of New York: Roy Nurmi

The Geological Society of America 2006 Medals & Awards

• Secretary, SEPM, Eastern Section: Tom • Editor of the Houston Geological Survey McKinney Bulletin: Linda Sternbach I can write a book about the success of • President, Eastern Section, National • Chair of AAPG’s Division of my students in the petroleum industry and in Association of Geology Teachers: Ken G. Environmental Geosciences, chairman academe. Teaching to improve the geological Johnson of its Earth Sciences Outreach Program, profession, whether in the classroom, in the field, in subsurface studies, in short courses, • Treasurer of PESNY: Joe Schrank Associate Editor of Environmental Geosciences, and received the division’s in editorial work, or in publishing textbooks, • Treasurer of the eastern section of AAPG research award: Ken Johnson is part of my destiny. I have taught short and moved up to vice president and courses on every continent, except Antarctica, • AAPG/ES Honorary Membership Award, president: Ken Johnson to approximately 10,500 geologists in the and became archivist for AAPG’s eastern • Distinguished Service Award of the petroleum industry. I had during my tenure section: Brian Keith Houston Geological Society: Charles 130 Ph.D. students, masters’ students, and Sternbach • Retired chief geologist from Shell Oil post-doctoral associates. Company: David Haglund • President Houston Geological Society: I like to thank my colleagues especially Charles Sternbach • American Association of Petroleum Larry Woodfork, who nominated me,and my Geologists, Eastern Section 2005; students who worked with me for receiving • Houston Geological Society president’s Outstanding Educator Award: Peter J. R. this award. award: Charles Sternbach Buttner • Recipient of the AAPG regional Distin- • Houston Geological Society: Honorary Life guished Service Award: Ken Johnson Membership: Charles Sternbach • AAPG Eastern Section’s Division of • President elect, Houston Geological Environmental Geoscience Meritorious Society: Linda Sternbach Contribution Award: Peter J.R. Buttner

The Geological Society of America 2006 Medals & Awards

Structural a broad view of the geological behaviour 1969 on this topic: John Dewey’s on the of our planet was the first necessity. In the Appalachian/Caledonian System and on Geology & sixties, there were a number of such geologists the conversion of Atlantic-type continental Tectonics with an encyclopaedic knowledge of global margins to Pacific-type continental margins, geology, yet not one of them became a John Warren Hamilton’s on Mesozoic California, Division Career Dewey, because they lacked the other, in my Hans Laubscher’s on mountain-building view the more critical, component of a broad (but essentially on the Alps) and Mitchell Contribution world-view of geology: A critical rational and Reading’s on geosynclines in terms of Award approach, i.e. to dare to ask the question: What plate tectonics. Of these only Dewey’s and ought it to be like? Such a question had long Hamilton’s papers dealt with the motion Presented to John F. Dewey been anathema in twentieth century geology of the plates not only to explain why the because of the prevalent silly Baconianism. As mountains were where they were, but also Tuzo Wilson wrote ‘more geological mapping got into the bowels of the orogens to show was both the method and the aim of geology’ us what the single lines geophysicists were in those days. drawing along convergent boundaries in Indeed, when I started my geological reality were and how they worked to create education, I was instructed to learn ‘the basic the real geological record. Recently, I had principles’ first and then be ready to question to remind, in a book review on the Lake the data. However, my previous reading in District in northern England, that Dewey’s the history of geology had taught me that 1969 paper had explained the individual those very ‘principles’ that I was advised Lakes elements already in his 1969 Nature to learn (implicitly, without questioning) paper! I could have done the same for parts were the mistakes of tomorrow. When I met of Ireland, Newfoundland, and the northern John Dewey, after my first year in geology Appalachians! through a short course he was giving together Once these initial papers were written, with Walter Pitman, I instantly recognised a John’s research forked: he continued to John F. Dewey teacher who not only allowed, but actively explore the theoretical implications of plate University of California, Davis encouraged, questioning even the most tectonics and he got into the field to test his basic ‘principles.’ On the day we met (10th and others’ models. Therein we see how June 1975), I told him, as a freshman, that I his critical rationlism was working. Dewey thought his model for the tectonics of Turkey not only falsified many models by others, Citation by Celâl S¸engör as published in the classical 1973 Dewey et but also some of his own (including those al. Alpine System paper (GSA Bulletin) was dating from pre-plate tectonics days from Today, we are here to celebrate the career wrong. John said “I know, but tell me how we the British Isles). Initially, for example, one of the greatest geologists of our times, can correct it”. This reaction, pronounced with he thought ophiolites could glide down as who, during the last three decades of the a genuine interest and smile during lunch, led gravity nappes. After work in Newfoundland twentieth century, has put his stamp on the to much scribbling on several paper napkins with his studets and visits to many ophiolites tectonic interpretation of Earth’s behaviour. and, during that conversation, John conceived in the world, he changed his mind. In fact, How fortunate it is for geology that he is still the idea that the Aegean grabens might have his team’s ophiolite research created such a active and, by all appearances, is likely to been created by east-west shortening and sturdy edifice, that much of what is going on remain so for years to come. It is an immense offered to write a paper with me, which now on ophiolites is icing on its cake. honour for me as a fellow geologist but, even appeared in 1979 in the GSA Bulletin. What John spent the early seventies exploring more so, as his pupil, to present Professor really impressed me was John’s incredibly plate tectonics in many mountain belts and, John Frederick Dewey to you as the career quick and inqiusitive mind, his genuine love together with his colleague and life-long awardee of the Structural Geology and for and determination to seek the truth and his friend Kevin Burke (another awardee of this Tectonics Division of the Geological Society generosity and kindness towards a freshman. section), in rift valleys, along continental of America this year. I decided that I must continue my studies margins and on continental plateaux. These Fortune favours the prepared mind. with him. That decision turned out to be the years saw the birth of the still-used models John’s career as a structural geologist was most important and the luckiest I have made of uplift-generated triple-junctions on plume about a decade old when plate tectonic theory in my life. To this day, I have been a constant heads, of Tibetan-type plateaux in continental burst upon the geological science in the late beneficiary of John’s kindness and generosity evolution, of cracking continental plates along sixties. He read geology at Queen Mary towards me. I probably owe him almost as complex zones of deformation. Through College and obtained his doctorate in Imperial much as I owe my own parents. His generosity these studies, John reached a conclusion that College with a thesis on the Ordovician and and kindness to all his students and colleagues horrified both him and those who read it and rocks of western Ireland. Although have been no less. tried to come to grips with it. He documented, not his thesis advisors, Dewey has always When the kinematic theory of plate in an ingenious paper in the John Rodgers regarded John Ramsay and Janet Watson as tectonics was almost complete in 1969, very (another awardee of this section) volume of his most important teachers and mentors. few geologists dared to reinterpret geological the American Journal of Science in 1975, In the late sixties, few geologists grasped data from an entire mountain belt in terms that plate tectonics must destroy geological the significance of plate tectonics because of it. I know of five papers that came out in evidence on such a scale as to render unique

The Geological Society of America 2006 Medals & Awards reconstructions of the past impossible! say nothing that we had not been hearing in I could go on and on about John the Anybody who understood the reality of the mid-seventies in John’s lectures. When geologist, but time fails us. He is far greater subduction would have guessed that, but John terranology became an end in itself, he than the limits of a single citation could showed, on hypothetical worlds masterfully revolted. The papers I wrote on that subject possibly read. Without him, the geology of the draughted on Wulff-nets how a continuously- and those that we co-authored were all written latter half of the twentieth century would have evolving network of plate boundaries must in close communication with John. Later, his been very much poorer. behave and which kind of evidence would interests became concentrated around complex Of the man John Dewey, I wish to say get destroyed in what sequence and at what strain histories and they culminated, in 2002, much, but I am deeply biased, as he and his stage of plate bundary evolution. This kind in his masterly analysis of transtension. Here wife Molly have always treated me as an older of rigorous analysis, while forcefully driving we see one of the best examples of John’s son and my affection, respect and indebtedness home to geologists that they cannot hope at method of approach to geological problems. to them both are boundless. However, as no the end of the day to be all-knowing, rescued He first lays out all the theoretically possible son should be barred from speaking about them from despondency by showing them aspects of a problem, then takes individual his father, so no grateful student should be what systematic clues they can hope to find to geological objects, such as hand samples, prohibited from talking about his mentor. In fill the gaps, albeit hypothetically, that opean outcrops, entire orogens, and tests the models John Dewey, all his students have found a up during plate boudaray evolution. John has using observations. Observations inspire wonderful, concerned and engaged teacher. repeatedly emphasised the chance aspect in further generalisations, correct errors, and His ability as a teacher and as a lecturer is geological evolution. Anybody who has not lead to further questions. Then, he returns legendary. His readiness to drop everything read John’s 1975 Am. Jour. Sci. paper and to the drawing board and tries to answer the to answer a question has always impressed its offspring his 1976 paper questions first theoretically, laying out the me. One day in Albany, when I asked him is at a serious disadvantage in interpreting basis for the next field-checks by modifying why he used a certain size Rotring pen while geological history in terms of plate tectonics. the original model, the iterative, networking, draughting a certain line, he dismounted the John showed that, while much evidence is approach. entire figure from the light table, walked lost, history may still be testable as much as Most recently, his research has centred on across campus with me to the only reducing physics is, and that geologists must strive to 3-5 Ma transtension along the eastern side of xerox machine we had on campus just to show erect testable hypotheses to reconstruct the the Sierra Nevada and the pre-Carboniferous me what it would look like when reduced! past. history of the US Cordillera west of the This reminds me what a superb draughtsman In the middle and the later part of the ”706” line, where he takes the superexotic John is. He draughts all his own figures, now seventies we see John, with his colleagues, view that all terranes with pre-end Devonian in Adobe Illustrator, and has always insisted getting into the Precambrian (which he had deformation originated in the Appalachians. that, when writing a paper, one should always already touched in 1969, with Kevin Burke, He has also been mapping and describing first draw the figures: Of geological objects in a paper on the reinterpretation of the Pan- mega-boulder deposits generated by freak and processes, he was fond of saying ‘If you African ‘tectono-thermal’ event of Kennedy, waves and tsunamis, espcially in New Zealand cannot draw it, it does not happen!’) which first appared in 1972). They showed that and western Ireland. There is no more affectionate and the naive interpretation of the greenstone belts He has never been seduced by the considerate friend. A model family man, he as little deformed synclines was hopelessly deceptive numerical pseudo-precision of invited me, after I had met him in Maryland wrong and resulted from not appreciating how simplistic physical models derived from in the Summer of 1975, to stay with him the structures of the Phanerozoic orogenic the application of elementary engineering and his family during the coming Christmas. belts had been unravelled by a judicious concepts to geology. He has long warned While the presents were being unpacked, he combination of detailed biostratigraphy and against the bogus air of precision that one may noticed that I had no present. He walked up to structural geology. In the Pre-Cambrian, obtain by ignorant application of ideal models, his bookshelf, picked up a rare 19th century the lack of biostratigraphy had crippled developed on unreal objects and for unreal geology book from his collection (T. Mellard structural interpretations much more than circumstances, to real geological objects and Raede’s, The Origin of Mountain Ranges) most Precambrian geologists seemed to have processes evolving in inscrutable complexity and handed it to me saying ‘And this is your recognised. John took a position akin to that in the abyss of deep time. He has been rightly present!’ I shall never forget that gesture. John adopted by Eduard Suess a centuary earlier; he intolerant of those producing numbers from has been a great teacher and a mentor to all his was willing to be actualistic but without losing either computers not tied to field reality students. sight of the fact that the terrestrial globe had or samples collected in the absence of a I have often written that top scientists an irreversible history. Today, Precambrian, carefully-constructed geological map. While very seldom make good teachers. Dewey is especially Archaean, tectonic research rises on we were his students, he allowed none of us one of those rarities. Not only is he a superb the pillars that John and Kevin erected. obtain a degree without making a detailed lecturer, a great discussion partner, and an In the eighties, John returned to the more geological map. Later, he allowed those with inexhaustible well of information, but he detailed structural evolution of the orogenic physical handicaps or of a more geophysical has that great knack of making his students belts and considered arcs, collapsing orogens, bent to do so but, even then, he made sure discover things for themselves. One evening and “terranes” About terranes he initially had that they studied and understood geological in the mid-seventies, I remember his telling a most tolerant approach, adopting graciously maps und used them in their work. For John, Gary White, who had just arrived in Albany to the terminology of those who reinvented geology is the ultimate and become one of his graduate students, that he what already Tuzo Wilson and he had clearly unforgivable that a geologist should adopt did not inflict help upon his students. He has said in the late sixties and the seventies. My the methods and theories of only one of its always refused to spoon-feed us. As a graduate fellow students from our Albany days will hand-maidens such as physics, chemistry or student, one had to come up with one’s own recognise that those papers fundamentally engineering. research topic and to make it acceptable to

The Geological Society of America 2006 Medals & Awards

John. This was tough. Even tougher was the important that geologists now inject some evolution, we need everything from all kinds complete freedom one enjoyed as his graduate science into the program. of observation, experiment, numerical and student. John laid down no guidelines in What started out as a new and vibrant analog model building , analysis, synthesis, research, although he was always available marine geophysics that completely changed and lateral thinking. My complaint is that the with advice if asked. However, he encouraged our geo-world in the 1960’s has been used techniques of the core of geology are being his graduate students to talk to each other (we to denigrate and diminish the central and progressively reduced and eliminated in favor do, to this day!). If one was able to stand all critical role of geology in the Earth Sciences. of trendy and probably ephemeral topics. that, one became an independent researcher Geology is becoming like a puffball; the core is a buzzword that in one’s own right and not a Dewey clone. of the science is rotting out inside a thin hard conceals a lot of shallow and poor science; as John has had 56 graduate students who, shell of the avant-garde and fringe. There is Kevin Burke once remarked “I am an expert except for two who have sadly died, are now more than one Professor of Geology who has in this area, I have lived in the environment distinguished geologists across the globe. never made a geologic map, looked down for seventy years”. The ultimate piece of Colleagues, I present to you, with much a microscope, or studied rocks, , nonsense is astrobiology/exobiology, the only pride and immense satisfaction, this year’s , or seismic sections, or logged a core. subject that I know that has no observational Career Contribution awardee of the Structural Classic field-based observational geology base and no material. Its rationale seems to be Geology and Tectonics Division of our is being squeezed out. Microscopy and an excuse to study the Archean and the origin society, Professor John Frederick Dewey. optical mineralogy are being phased out and of life (why find an excuse?) and plenty of students are not taught to map properly and NASA money. make field observations. How can one do I am deeply concerned about the modern Response by John F. Dewey serious petrology without optical mineralogy? university obsession with accountability, I am deeply honored and touched by this The Universal Stage is a powerful tool in assessment and review, but only of course of award. Celâl has been most generous but I am petrography yet is now scarcely taught or academics not administrators. The intellectual approaching 70 and “retirement” is looming used. Whole departments are ignoring the tradition of scholarship is decaying as the in the not-too-distant-future. The career fundamentals and undergraduates who want corporate business mode takes over with all contribution award suggests thank you and to study geology are being cheated. The future its attendant money-based decision-making. goodbye, but I promise that I will keep on doing of geology is now at serious risk because the The faculty, who perform the basic and field-based geology in structure and tectonics young are not being properly trained in the essential university mission of teaching and but I do have some new interests in the deposits basics especially in the field. Francis Pettijohn research are paid substantially less than of tsunamis and freak waves mainly in New said “The field is where the truth resides; administrators. The recent history of some Zealand, Ireland, Aruba, and Cyprus. rocks do not lie, and there is nothing as major universities involves devious and secret First, the negative. I will outline some sobering as an outcrop.” Field geology can be actions in wasting public money at the highest of my profound concerns about the present intellectually and physically very demanding, administrative levels; partners hired and given state of Geology and academic life. I may be sometimes hot and sweaty or freezing and newly-defined and highly-paid jobs, massive considered a grumpy old man but I can say wet but without it, a resulting map, and funds spent on upgrading housing, expensive whatever I choose at my age because I am observations of rocks, minerals and fossils, sabbaticals taken just before retiring , being seeking neither a job nor NSF funding. nothing much useful can be done. fired, or relocating , exit golden handshakes, Earthscope, IRIS, and programs like Another problem is the seductive pseudo- and secret unaccountable housing loans them are expensive boondoggles. Random precision and accuracy of numbers that given to un-named individuals. The wasted data collection, of course, is always useful come out of machines. Simple basic geology money of “hands in the till and noses in the as would be a proposal to map the whole 101 tells us that the Sierra Nevada went up trough” is of less concern than the arrogance of Africa at the 1:10,000-scale but it is not in the late Cenozoic yet new and untested of putative importance and entitlement the way to do science. Actually, any surface geochemical arguments are used to counter shrouded in secrecy. This kind of stuff, of random data collection like Quadrangle this. The established stratigraphic position course, is not available to academics and has Mapping is much more useful than Earthscope and order of Ordovician sediments in western to be stamped out. Faculty need to take over because of the small filter size and direct Ireland are challenged by zircon numbers with universities again; administrators should obey access to rocks. It is peculiar how large-scale no micro-mineralogy or serious discussion of their instructions. We are in trouble when geophysical random data collection, which lead loss/gain. We have been seduced by and Chancellors, Vice-Chancellors, Provosts, and homogenizes at a very large pixel scale begun to believe implicitly in the sometimes Presidents think of themselves as top dogs is considered to be superior to geological bogus results of some of these methods. and CEO of their institution in the corporate mapping at a small resolved pixel scale Rb/Sr was once considered the “bee’s knees” business mode. where one can actually see the rocks. Large of geochronology but is now realized to be The overhead is a drug to which expensive programs, driven by program almost worthless. Quantitative mensuration administrators have become addicted; it managers and geopolitical activists, are, methods are important but have to be gives Chancellors and Presidents slush generally, appalling and costly nonsense. At weighed as a component of all the evidence funds. Grants and overheads are corrupting an early stage, we needed less sycophancy rather than considered to be the definitive serious scholarship. The overhead pours in, from the geological community, such as truth. Numerical modeling is important in the faculty who generate it are rated by their “how can we adapt and use Earthscope to our constraining ideas but is not the touchstone of ability to obtain it, while administrators, who geologic advantage “and more straight talk veracity. do not and cannot generate it, cream it off to such as “please stop this nonsense and put all I am not suggesting that only hard spend it in unaccountable ways. They are even that cash into the responsive mode where all rock field-based geology is worth studying. beginning to tax research gifts to department funds should reside”. It is now too late, but To understand the Earth, its processes and and individuals.

The Geological Society of America 2006 Medals & Awards

The NSF funding system, especially in for example, is a field that demands an There have been many great people Structure and Tectonics, is moving away from immense amount of work before something who have been important in my career for the field base. It is no different internationally; sensible can be published. Universities whose friendship , influence, and guidance the system is run largely by people who do have to change the way in which faculty are I am deeply grateful: Janet Watson, Robert not go into the field and have no sense of assessed for tenure and promotion to promote Shackleton, Chuck Drake, Teddy Bullard, Jim or interest in the field base of geological scholarship rather than the present slavish Gilluly, Warren Hamilton, Bill Dickinson, Bill reality. Funding goes to safe research that dependence on an absurd algorithm. Kidd, Kevin Burke, Hank Williams, and all has already been done, and to the ongoing Another problem is the scant attention my 56 graduate students, who I will not list. support of large laboratory systems in which paid to the literature and history of geology. I have been very lucky and am very grateful the funding agencies have an investment and The vulgar modern trend is to search and for receiving lots of research funding for forty a vested interest. The risky, innovative and refer only to the digitally available literature six years, from many companies, trusts, and clever is doomed to grades of good and very of the last five years. Consequently, there is funding agencies. good, the kiss of death. Funding commonly much “rediscovery of the wheel, commonly in I see the embers of a fire in the rise of goes to research that has already been done. elliptical or hexagonal form. a new generation of brilliant young field- I have thought for some time, and for many Now the positive. I am excited by some based geologists such as David Chew, Paul reasons, that the geo-funding activities of of my new research interests and students Karabinos, and Alex Kisters, supported by the NSF should be transferred to the NAS, where in UC Davis. Dave Benner and Tatia Taylor, middle-aged generation such as Mike Brown, they would be awarded to the best and most top-class field geologists, have worked with Peter Cawood, and Alan Glazner, and the original research. The NSF Program Manager me and taught me a lot about neotectonics older generation such as Art Snoke and Carl position, in its present form, is a position that and transtension in the East California Shear Anhaeusser, to name but a few. I have learned should be disbanded in that managers have Zone along the eastern flank of the Sierra so much from many geologists, especially too much power to influence and steer, if Nevada, especially in the Coso geothermal from Maria Mange, who showed me the power not direct, the kind of science that that they field. Frank Monastero, Director of the US of high-resolution-heavy-mineral-analysis regard as important. Program Managers do Navy Coso Geothermal Program has been a in tectonics, from Paul Ryan who is world- not have a fatidical and exclusive knowledge tower of strength and knowledge in supporting class at combining field-based geology with and understanding of what is and may become our research, while Jeff Unruh of Lettis numerical modeling, and from my citationist important. Everything is important. The Corporation has generously shared his ideas who has demonstrated what can be done with proper way to proceed for all the money to and data, and Don Turcotte is a dependable a phenomenal memory, a keen kinematic be in the responsive mode, for the panels to intelligent counsel and pillar of strength in sense, a fine analytic and synthetic ability, and consist of the best people, and for the panels quantifying the difficult in elegant and simple a complete knowledge of the geology of the to make decisions, not recommendations, that ways. This Coso transtensional research world, its history, and its literature. the Program Managers administer. will be published soon and will change the The Career Contribution award suggests To the young , I say “take up the way in which we think about vertical axis a career coming to its close. I have been challenge to preserve geology and our block rotation in both plane and non-plane teaching for 46 years (about 9,000 lectures, universities if you care about them”. You strain regimes. There are so many problems 6,000 hours of practicals/labs, 5,000 hours have the power through your faculty senate, in structure and tectonics world-wide. All of field courses, a total of some 20,000 hours to take charge. Don’t get sucked into the involve an eclectic range of techniques from or 2.283 years of instruction) in Manchester, system; remain uncorrupted but remember the thin section to the solar system but most Cambridge, Albany, Columbia, Durham, “the ruling clique in the funding system involve field work, laboratory measurement, Oxford, and Davis. It does not sound like and administrations may try to get you experiment and modeling. a lot but try standing on your feet teaching through funding, tenure, and promotion. Your The USA has been central in my life continuously for 2.283 years. I now feel the university does not care about scholarship as the best place in the world to do geology. need to give up full-time teaching. I may be and what research you are doing; they are My ten years in Albany during the 1970’s coming to the end of my full-time teaching concerned mainly with the overhead, the and the last six years in Davis have been career but not of my research career. I hope to number of papers that you have published in wonderful with a small but excellent faculty spend the rest of my life doing lots of geology refereed journals , and external recognition and top-class carefully-selected and excellent around the globe in the field, skiing, cricket, through medals, awards, and prizes Your graduate students. Both periods in the USA watercolour painting, playing the piano, promotion and tenure depend upon these have generated an intellectual rejuvenation in model railroading, walking, consorting and factors while only scant regard is paid to me. I advise the young of the world to come drinking fine wines with old friends, gourmet university service, teaching, and serious to America to forge, at least the early stages cooking, and listening to British and Irish scholarship. Universities should be about of, their career. classical music. My geology will be mainly scholarship, a semi-forgotten word that means Hans Laubscher, Greg Davis, Jan in western Ireland, Newfoundland, Norway, academic achievement and learning at a Tullis, Tanya Atwater, and Kevin Burke California, South Africa, and New Zealand, high level, exemplified par excellence by my are all hard acts to follow as recipients of and the topics will be arc-continent collision, citationist and many of my students. There this award and illustrate the great range of mélanges, transtension, and tsunamites and have been great scholars who have spent ideas and techniques in our science. There freak wave deposits but, who knows, I may be many years developing a fundamental piece of are many Kevin stories but the simplest and seduced into any kind of geology that takes research while publishing little or nothing but most persistent is the best. If you tell Kevin my fancy, the only truly fundamental and the teaching superbly at the highest intellectual something that you think is original, he will very best science. Thank you all so much for level. Such people would not have a chance in respond with “there’s a lot of it about”. having been my friends for so many years and today’s universities. Vertebrate paleontology, for being here tonight.

The Geological Society of America