Alabama State Geologist, Berry H. "Nick" Tew, Jr., Recognized for Contributions to the Field of Geoscience

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Maureen Moses (mmoses@americangeosciences.org)

09/22/2016

 

Alexandria, VA - The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is pleased to recognize Berry H. "Nick" Tew, Jr., the State Geologist of Alabama, with the AGI Medal in Memory of Ian Campbell for Superlative Service to the Geosciences, its highest award.  He is recognized for his roles, abilities and successes in bringing academia, government, industry and the public together to address major societal challenges in the geosciences. 

 

Dr. Tew has served as State Geologist and Oil and Gas Supervisor of Alabama for 14 years and, in these capacities, he directs the Geological Survey of Alabama and the State Oil and Gas Board. He is a fellow at the Geological Society of America; a member of the National Petroleum Council; the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's Unconventional Hydrocarbon Roundtable; the Executive Board of the Council of Scientific Society Presidents; and a Commissioner of the North American Commission on Stratigraphic Nomenclature. 

 

He has been deeply involved with the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission and the Groundwater Protection Council and is a leader in the dialog surrounding the development of unconventional hydrocarbon resources, serving on the Board of the State Oil and Gas Regulatory Exchange. He also holds an appointment as a Research Professor in the Department of Geological Sciences at The University of Alabama, where he directs the Center for Sedimentary Basin Studies.

 

Tew has authored numerous geoscientific publications and given scores of presentations at scientific conferences. His work has helped shape our understanding of the U.S. Gulf Coastal Plain sequence stratigraphy and sedimentology. He has served as an Associate Editor of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, as well as on the Editorial Board of Environmental Geology. Through field excursions, seminars, conferences and technical workshops, he has trained countless students, young professionals and seasoned geoscientists. He has volunteered his time at numerous professional and scientific organizations, leading both the Association of American State Geologists and AGI as President. He is currently a trustee of the AGI Foundation. 

 

AGI President, Dr. Scott Tinker, noted, "I find him to be an honorable family man and a true geo-statesman, balancing thoughtful science, practical solutions and varied public perspectives to accomplish actual societal benefit. Nick's attributes are indeed a rare contribution to the geosciences and most fitting for the Ian Campbell Medal."

 

The AGI Medal in Memory of Ian Campbell for Superlative Service to the Geosciences is AGI's highest award, given in recognition of singular performance in, and contributions to, the profession of geology. Candidates are measured against the distinguished career of Ian Campbell, whose service to the profession touched virtually every facet of the geosciences. Campbell was a most uncommon man of remarkable accomplishment and widespread influence. In his career as a geologist, educator, administrator and public servant, he was noted for his candor and integrity. The title of the award was changed in 2009 to add "for Superlative Service to the Geosciences" in order to emphasize the importance of service shown by the recipient.

 

###

 

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.