AIPG National Award – The 2022 Ben H. Parker Memorial Distinguished Service Medal to Dr. Scott Tinker, P.G., CPG
The Ben H. Parker Memorial Distinguished Service Medal is the American Institute Professional Geologist’s most distinguished award. The Award was made to Dr. Scott Tinker by Henry M. Wise, P.G., CPG, President of AIPG Texas Section with Michael D. Campbell, P.G., P.H., CPG, Vice-President – Eastern Texas.
The Award was established by the Executive Committee in 1969 in honor of a truly great leader, who devoted much of his life to improve the quality of geology and geologists and the services they provide. The medal is awarded to individuals who have long records of distinguished and outstanding service to the profession. The most important criterion for this medal is a continual record of contribution to the profession of geology. A wide variety of contributions can be considered, such as (a) the education and training of geologists, (b) professional development of geologists, (c) service to the Institute, (d) leadership in the surveillance of laws, rules, and regulations affecting geology, geologists, and the public, and (e) activity in local and regional affairs of geologists.
Dr. Tinker is Director of the 250-person Bureau of Economic Geology, the State Geologist of Texas, and a professor holding the Edwin Allday Endowed Chair in the Jackson School of Geosciences at The University of Texas at Austin. Scott Tinker works to bring industry, government, academia, and nongovernmental organizations together to address major societal challenges in energy, the environment, and the economy.
With BEG Director Harry Lynch, Dr. Tinker coproduced and is featured in the award-winning energy documentary film “Switch,” which has been screened in over 50 countries to more than 15 million viewers and is used on thousands of K-through-12 and college campuses. Dr. Tinker formed the nonprofit Switch Energy Alliance in 2016 and has completed two new films: “Switch On”, a feature length documentary addressing global energy poverty, and “Energy Makes our World,” a 5 minute, Hollywood-quality film made for global museums and giant screens. He is the voice of “EarthDate”, a two-minute weekly program that focuses on remarkable stories of Earth. “EarthDate” is produced by the Bureau of Economic Geology and is featured on over 400 NPR and public radio stations in all 50 United States.
Dr. Tinker has served as president of several associations including the American Geosciences Institute (AGI), the Association of American State Geologists (AASG), the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), and the Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies (GCAGS). Dr. Tinker is an AGI Campbell Medalist, AAPG Halbouty Medalist, GCAGS Boyd Medalist, a Geological Society of America Fellow, and now holder of the AIPG Ben H. Parker Memorial Distinguished Service Medal. In his visits to some 65 countries, he has given over 850 keynote and invited lectures.