GeoSpectrum

The American Geological Institute (AGI) is pleased to announce that Larry D. Woodfork has been named the 2008 recipient of the Medal in Memory of Ian Campbell. Woodfork is the 27th recipient of this award that is given annually in memory of Ian Campbell, a man of remarkable accomplishment and influence.

Larry D. Woodfork, the 2008 Campbell Medalist, has had a highly productive professional career spanning four decades and including leadership positions in government, industry and academia. He began working in the petroleum industry and in 1968 joined the West Virginia Geologic and Economic Survey as a staff geologist. In 1989, he was appointed State Geologist and Director. During his tenure at the Survey, he concurrently held appointments as Adjunct Professor at West Virginia University. He has authored or edited publications on energy resources and the application of geology in addressing societal needs.

Larry served West Virginia with distinction for 34 years. He provided the insight required to build and maintain the geological research and outreach service programs of the Survey in a cost-effective manner. During his tenure, Larry served on state, regional, and national committees, boards, and commissions. His outstanding and timely service contributions were recognized by the Governors of West Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana by each awarding him the highest honor bestowed on citizens.

Larry’s dedication and commitment to geoscience professional organizations are legendary. He has served as President of AGI, AIPG, and ASSG and as Chair of the AAPG HOD. He has provided leadership to the international community by serving as a voting delegate for the 31^st and 32^nd International Geological Congresses and as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Officers of the Corporation of International Year of Planet Earth. For his distinguished service, accomplishments, and leadership, he has received high honors and prestigious awards: AIPG Ben H. Parker Medal, AIPG Honorary Membership, AAPG Honorary Membership, AASG Honorary Membership, and GSA Senior Fellow.

Larry D. Woodfork’s many and significant contributions and distinguished service to the geoscience profession, and his exceptional achievements and visionary leadership unequivocally qualify him as an excellent selection for the 2008 Ian Campbell Medal.

Compiled by: Ernest A. Mancini, Citationist

Dr. Arthur A. Socolow has been named the recipient of the 2007 Medal in honor of Ian Campbell. Socolow will be presented this prestigious award at the Geological Society of America (GSA) Presidential Address Ceremony in Denver, Colorado on October 27, 2007.

Dr. Socolow received his B.S. in geology from Rutgers University and both his M.S. and Ph.D. from Columbia University. While in graduate school, he also worked with the U.S. Geological Survey. After receiving his Ph.D., he began his career as a professor of geology at Southern Methodist University, Boston University, and the University of Massachusetts.

In 1957, Socolow joined the Pennsylvania Geological Survey where he worked as Director and State Geologist until 1986. After stepping down as Director, he began working as a consulting geologist, focusing on projects addressing environmental geology, engineering geology, mineral resources evaluation and ground water development.

Socolow has authored over 100 papers and publications. He has served on numerous advisory committees including for the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Department of Energy, National Research Council, and the Interstate Oil Compact Commission. In addition, Socolow has been President of the Association of American State Geologists, the Geologic Section of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Association of Stratigraphic Nomenclature.

Socolow is the 26th recipient of this award that is given annually in memory of Ian Campbell, a man of remarkable accomplishment and influence. Dr. Socolow’s long history of service to the science and profession makes him extremely deserving of this honor. Previous recipients of this award may be viewed at http://www.agiweb.org/direct/awards.html.

The American Geological Institute is a nonprofit federation of 44 geoscientific and professional associations that represents more than 120,000 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.

Geology librarian Dederick C. (Dedy) Ward of Anacortes, Washington was honored recently by the Geoscience Information Society (GSIS) for distinguished service to the profession. In accepting the 2006 Mary B. Ansari Distinguished Service Award on Ward’s behalf at the Society’s Philadelphia meeting, Lura E. Joseph (Geology Librarian, University of Illinois) cited Ward’s extensive contributions to the professionalization of geoscience librarianship and his personal scholarship.

Ward was one of the founding members of the Geoscience Information Society in 1965 and served as co-chair of the first International Conference on Geological Information, held in London in 1978. The meeting brought together for the first time specialists who dealt in geoscientific information; 190 delegates from 17 countries participated.

He was author or co-author of three editions of Geologic Reference Sources published between 1967 and 1981. The classic work helped educate generations of information specialists. In 1984, together with Albert Carozzi, Ward published Geology Emerging, a catalog illustrating the history of geology through rare books held by the University of Illinois library. His 1989 study of “Information-seeking behavior of geoscientists,” co-authored with Julie Bichteler, won the GSIS Best Paper Award the following year.

Ward holds degrees in geology from Washington and Lee University and the University of Colorado and an MA in librarianship from the University of Denver. In the 1960s and 1970s he served as Head of Science Libraries and Earth Science Librarian at the University of Colorado, Boulder. In 1980 he moved to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as Geology Librarian and Associate Professor of Library Administration. He retired from UIUC in 1989 to pursue another love, painting. His art reflects his interest and background in geology.

Richard D. Walker, a long-time colleague, summarized: “Dedy was always mindful of the role information played in the lives of both the working geoscientist and the geoscience information specialist and was always ready to act as the liaison between those professions.”

GSIS is an international professional organization devoted to improving the exchange of information in the earth sciences. The membership consists of librarians, editors, cartographers, educators, and information professionals. Information about the Society may be found at its website www.geoinfo.org.