Robert H. Dott, Jr. Awarded Marcus Milling Legendary Geoscientist Medal

Alexandria, VA — The American Geological Institute (AGI) is pleased to announce Dr. Robert H. Dott, Jr., Professor Emeritus, Department of Geoscience of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as the recipient of the 2011 Marcus Milling Legendary Geoscientist Medal. Established in 1999, the award is presented to a geoscientist who has demonstrated a long history of scientific achievement and exceptional service to the geoscience profession.

Dr. Dott received his B.S. and M.S. from the University of Michigan in 1950 and 1951 respectively. From there, he earned his Ph.D. from Columbia University in 1956. His career began at the Humble Oil and Refining Company in Arizona, Oregon, Washington and California. He also served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force as part of the Air Force Cambridge Research Center.

After working in the petroleum industry, Dr. Dott started as Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He rose to the position of Full Professor and was named the Stanley A. Tyler Distinguished Professor. He retired in 1994. During his teaching career, he directed (or co-directed) 58 completed Masters and Ph.D. Theses leaving a legacy of well-trained geoscience professionals in academia, government and industry. Notably, Dr. Dott is co-author of the text Evolution of the Earth (McGraw-Hill) which is now in its 8th edition.

Dr. Dott has greatly served the geoscience community. Among his many leadership roles, he has served as President (1981-82) for SEPM, President of the History of Earth Science Society (1990), was Associate Editor of Geology (1974-1982) and the Journal of Sedimentary Petrology (1978-1981). He has also been on the Geological Society of American Nominating Committee (1972, 1977), the U.S. National Committee on Geology of the National Academy of Sciences (1982-1986) and served as Chairman for the U.S. Committee on the History of Geology for the National Research Council (1981- 1992).

Throughout Dr. Dott’s career, he has been honored with several awards including the Distinguished Service Award of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (1984), SEPM Excellence of Presentation Award (1984), was named an SEPM Honorary Member (1987), been awarded the Ben H. Parker Medal by the American Institute of Professional Geologists (1992), the W.H. Twenhofel Medal by SEPM (1993), the History of Geology Award (1995) and the Sloss Award (2001) by the Geological Society of America.

It is for his research in sedimentology and the history of geology, his dedicated service to professional geoscience societies, and his decades of teaching the next generation of geoscientists through both his professorship and text, Evolution of the Earth, that Dr. Robert H. Dott, Jr. is being awarded with the Marcus Milling Legendary Geoscientist Medal.