AGI Honors Dr. Ernest "Ernie" A. Mancini at AAPG Annual Meeting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Maureen Moses (mmoses@americangeosciences.org)

7/14/2016

 

Alexandria, VA - It is with great pleasure that the American Geosciences Institute announces its 2016 recipient of the Marcus Milling Legendary Geoscientist Medal. Dr. Ernest "Ernie" A. Mancini, Professor Emeritus in Geological Sciences at the University of Alabama has been recognized for his distinguished career in the geosciences spanning research, teaching and service at: the University of Alabama; Texas A&M University; Distinguished Research Professor in the areas of stratigraphy and petroleum geology at the University of Alabama;  State Geologist of Alabama and Director of the Geological Survey of Alabama; Oil and Gas Supervisor for Alabama;  Director and founder of the Center for Sedimentary Basin Studies at the University of Alabama; First Director of the Berg-Hughes Center for Petroleum and Sedimentary Systems at Texas A&M University; Serving as President at multiple geoscience organizations; Regional Director for the Eastern Gulf Region of the Petroleum Technology Transfer Council; and acting as a science and natural resources advisor to several Alabama governors and the state legislature. 

 

Mancini's prodigious body of work has led to significant advancements in the understanding of the stratigraphy and petroleum systems of Mesozoic and Cenozoic strata of the Gulf of Mexico basin. The advances made in this region have fundamentally shaped geoscientists understanding of similar depositional and petroleum systems worldwide. In addition to over 400 publications and technical reports, he produced and published the first statewide geologic maps of Alabama since 1926, including the first map at the 1:250,000 scale. He is recognized for his innovative teaching methods, and his use of an integrative and interdisciplinary research approach to solve complex problems.   

 

Alongside shaping our understanding of the Gulf of Mexico Basin, he has played an active role in training students, including those directly under his tutelage as graduate master and doctoral candidates, and experienced geoscientists through short courses, seminars and technology workshops sponsored by geoscience organizations, universities, government agencies and industry. These individuals can now be found in high-ranking positions in academia, industry and government. He is credited with setting a standard of excellence for those around him. 

 

He has actively contributed to and has been honored by: the University of Alabama; AGI;  AAPG; the Geological Society of America; the Association of American State Geologists; the Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies; the Gulf Coast Section of the Society for Sedimentary Geology (SEPM); and the North American Commission on Stratigraphic Nomenclature. Additionally he has served on numerous State- and Federal-level agencies and commissions. 

 

As written in his nomination, "Simply stated, Ernie Mancini has had a career in the geosciences that most of us can only envy, leaving us a legacy to aspire to. His accomplishments and contributions are abundant, and as of this moment, ongoing." 

 

The American Geosciences Institute recognized Ernie Mancini at the 2016 AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition held in Calgary, Alberta. He will formally accept this award at the AGI Past President's dinner that will be held at the Geological Society of America Annual Meeting in September 2016. We sincerely thank, and congratulate Mancini on an exemplary career.

 

The Marcus Milling Legendary Geoscientist Medal is given to a recipient with consistent contributions of high-quality scientific achievements and service to the Earth sciences having lasting, historic value; who has been recognized for accomplishments in field(s) of expertise by professional societies, universities, or other organizations; and is a senior scientist nearing completion or has completed full-time regular employment. Prior to 2007 it had been called the AGI Legendary Geoscientist Award.

 

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The American Geosciences Institute is a nonprofit federation of geoscientific and professional associations that represents more than 250,000 geologists, geophysicists and other earth scientists. Founded in 1948, AGI provides information services to geoscientists, serves as a voice of shared interests in the profession, plays a major role in strengthening geoscience education, and strives to increase public awareness of the vital role the geosciences play in society's use of resources, resiliency to natural hazards, and interaction with the environment.