Scott Tinker, Ph.D. CPG-10564
Texas Section
The Ben H. Parker Memorial Distinguished Service Medal is the Institute’s most distinguished award. It was established by the Executive Committee in 1969 in posthumous honor of a truly great leader, who devoted much of his life to improve the qual- ity of geology and geologists and the services they provide. The medal is awarded to individuals who have long records of distin- guished and outstanding service to the profession.
It is with humility and gratitude that I accept the honor of the Parker Distinguished Service Medal. I would like to thank Parker medalist, mentor and friend Bill Fisher, and friend, colleague and men- tor Mark Shuster, for the nomination. I would also like to thank my wife of 39 years, Allyson, and my grown kids, Nathan, Derek, Tyler, and Claire, for their continued support and love, even when I did not always earn or deserve it.
When I looked at the list of former Parker med- alists, I discovered that I know, or knew, about half of the more than fifty awardees, and several of those I have worked very closely with. They have been remarkable mentors and friends and to them I am truly grateful. Beyond that, I am aware of the contributions of several of the others. These are outstanding leaders who have not only served the profession but shaped the science of geology the past half century.
The Parker Medal is awarded for contributions in the education and training of geologists; the pro- fessional development of geologists; service to the Institute; leadership in the surveillance of laws, rules, and regulations affecting geology, geologists, and the public; and activity in local and regional affairs of geologists. Although I have tried to en- gage in these activities, in this the early part of my seventh decade, I don’t feel like I have quite yet earned this recognition from fellow professionals. I will continue to strive to do so.
A couple of thoughts as I look across the globe in 2022. The world faces two important and inter- related challenges related closely to geoscience: affordable and reliable energy for all, and protect- ing the environment. As professionals, we must always seek the truth, and share it, no matter how unpopular it may appear.
Climate change is an important issue, but it is not the only environmental issue. The land, air, and water matter greatly as well. Coal, oil, and natural gas are dense forms of energy that have created
great wealth and improved the human condition. But they have environmental impacts, not least
of which is the CO2 released during combustion. They need to be cleaned up. Solar and wind are important low carbon solutions, but they are only part of the solution. The vast mining, manufactur- ing and disposal required for batteries, panels and turbines has major environmental impacts of its own. It all comes from, and eventually is dumped back into, the earth.
Today, with global population approaching 8 bil- lion, many citizens in the wealthy, developed world with access to affordable and reliable energy, but representing less than 10% of global population, believe that coal, oil, and natural gas are “bad” and wind solar and batteries are “good.” The rest of the world is intent on getting, or growing, their energy access and security, and are more than happy to use coal, oil, and natural gas.
The truth is that there are no good and bad, clean and dirty, renewable and nonrenewable en- ergy sources. They all have benefits, and they all have challenges.
The energy-environment challenge is not sim- ple, but it is solvable if we understand and address the interwoven fabric of energy security, scale of energy demand, physics of energy density, distri- bution of energy resources, interconnectedness of the land, air, water and atmosphere, and the extreme disparity in global wealth and economic health.
In these divisive times, I encourage you, my professional colleagues, to the extent you can roll up your sleeves and engage. The world needs to hear from you. To benefit from your knowledge of the earth. To put our best minds to the task of ad- dressing the dual challenge. To working together to better the world.
Heartfelt thanks for this recognition.
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BEN H. PARKER BEN H. PARKER MEMORIAL DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL MEMORIAL DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL
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