Barbara H. Murphy Honored with AGI's Ian Campbell Medal for Superlative Service to Geosciences

Barbara H. Murphy, RG, CPG, Senior Hydrogeologist at Clear Creek Associates, has been recognized as the 2019 recipient of the AGI (American Geosciences Institute) Medal in Memory of Ian Campbell for Superlative Service to the Geosciences.

Throughout her more than 40-year career, Ms. Murphy has demonstrated exceptional leadership and service at local, national, and international levels, contributing to various committees for government and nonprofit groups. She has worked with the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG), AGI, the Arizona Geological Survey, the Arizona Hydrological Society, Geoscientists Canada, European Federation of Geologists, and the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) to advocate for the geoscience profession.

Ms. Murphy has supported state geological surveys and professional geologists, notably by offering written and verbal testimony when the profession was under threat of adversity. She serves on the Arizona Geological Survey’s State Mapping Advisory Committee and has been a member (by appointment of the governor) of the Arizona Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. Additionally, she is a familiar presence with AGI, serving on the Geopolicy Working Group and the Hazards Caucus Alliance to represent AIPG for several years.

Ms. Murphy worked on the initial development of the joint AGI/AIPG Geoscience Online Learning Initiative (GOLI) and is a key member of the Task Group on Global Geoscience Professionalism, working with international geological organizations in promoting educational and professional standards and public outreach for geosciences worldwide. She has served on numerous committees and held elected offices with AIPG, including national president in 2012.

Ms. Murphy has devoted time and energy to bettering the geoscience profession and community, serving as a mentor for young geoscientists in their education and career pursuits. She has also received several honors from AIPG, including the Ben H. Parker Memorial Medal Award (2018), Outstanding Service Award as AIPG National President (2012), Martin Van Couvering Award (2011), AIPG’s Award of Honorary Membership for service to AIPG and the Profession (2008), and AIPG’s Presidential Award (1997).

Professionally, Ms. Murphy has specialized in environmental geology and water resource evaluations in her work with Clear Creek Associates in Arizona since November 1999. She earned her B.A. in Geology at Mount Holyoke College and completed Field Geology coursework in Colorado with the University of Kansas. Her senior research project was based on summer fieldwork mapping completed as part of the National Science Foundation’s Nain Anorthosite Project in Labrador, Canada at a remote location where she was told she was the fourth person in modern times to go.