Association Awards
Sidney Powers Memorial Award
The Sidney Powers Memorial Award is a gold medal given in recognition of distinguished and outstanding contributions to, or achievements in, petroleum geology. It is AAPG’s most distinguished award, and is made at such times as the Executive Committee may designate, but not more than once in any calendar year. Honorary Membership is automatically bestowed upon recipients of the Award, if they have not already received that honor.
Michel T. Halbouty Outstanding Leadership Award
The Michel T. Halbouty Outstanding Leadership Award is given in recognition of outstanding and exceptional leadership in the petroleum geosciences. It is AAPG’s second most distinguished award, second to the Sidney Powers Memorial Award. Only one award is given during any one calendar year. Honorary membership is automatically bestowed upon recipients of the Award, if they have not already received that honor.
Honorary Members
Honorary membership is bestowed upon persons who have distinguished themselves by their service and devotion to the science and profession of petroleum geology and the Association.
Norman H. Foster Outstanding Explorer Award
The Norman H. Foster Outstanding Explorer Award is given in recognition of distinguished and outstanding achievement in exploration for petroleum or mineral resources, by members who have shown a consistent pattern of exploratory success, and with an intended emphasis on recent discovery.
Robert R. Berg Award
The Robert R. Berg Outstanding Research Award is given in recognition of a singular achievement in petroleum geoscience research. It is AAPG’s fifth highest award, ranking beneath Outstanding Explorer Award and above the Distinguished Service Award. Only one award is given in any calendar year.
Distinguished Service Award
The Distinguished Service Award is presented to members who have distinguished themselves in singular and beneficial long-term service to AAPG.
Grover E. Murray Memorial Distinguished Educator Award
The Grover E. Murray Memorial Distinguished Educator Award is given in recognition of distinguished and outstanding contributions to geological education. Only one award is to be given per year unless funding is approved by the Executive Committee when the award slate is approved. Contributions leading to consideration for this award will most often involve the teaching and counseling of students at the university level, and contributions to the education of the public, and management of educational programs may also be recognized.
Harrison Schmitt Awards
Awards are given when, in the Executive Committee's judgment, persons are deserving of recognition for some outstanding accomplishment which does not otherwise qualify for other Association awards.
Public Service Award
The Public Service Award is given to recognize contributions by members of the Association to public affairs and to encourage geologists to take a more active part in such affairs.
Pioneer Award
The Pioneer award is given to long-standing members who have contributed to the Association and who have made meaningful and significant contributions to the science of geology.
PAPER AWARDS
Wallace E. Pratt Memorial Award
The Wallace E. Pratt Memorial Award was approved in 1982 to honor and reward the authors of original articles published in the AAPG Bulletin. The cash award is $1500.
Robert H. Dott, Sr., Memorial Award
The Robert H. Dott, Sr., Memorial Award (formerly the President's Award) is to honor and reward the authors of original articles published by the Association. Through 1979, the award was $250 in cash for the best paper published by the Association during each calendar year. Beginning in 1980, the award was expanded to recognize both the best Bulletin article and the best special publication (when appropriate), with the cash award being $250 in each category. In 1982, the cash award was increased to $500 in each category, and the best Bulletin article was changed to the Wallace E. Pratt Memorial Award.
J.C. "Cam" Sproule Memorial Award
The J. C. "Cam" Sproule Memorial Award is to honor and reward the younger authors of papers on petroleum geology. It is awarded to a member of the Association, 35 years of age or younger at the time of submittal, whose paper, published in any publication of the Association or an affiliated society, division, or section, is sufficiently outstanding and is judged to be the best contribution to petroleum geology by a person of those qualifications during that year. The cash award is $500.
John W. Shelton Search & Discovery Award
The John W. Shelton Search and Discovery Award is given at the Annual Convention of the Association each year in recognition of the best contribution to the “Search and Discovery” website in the past year. It is awarded for the outstanding contribution to Search and Discovery for originality of concepts and/or techniques, applicability to, and impact on, exploration for and/or development of hydrocarbon resources and/or energy-mineral resources, clarity in presentation, and quality and added value of illustrative material. The cash award is $500.
George C. Matson Award
The George C. Matson Award is made to the speaker presenting before the annual convention of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists that paper which is judged to be best. Papers are judged by the Matson Award Committee on the basis of both scientific quality of content and excellence in presentation. The name of the Matson Award winner is engraved on a large, beautiful silver cup provided by the Matson family. The recipient also receives a plaque on which an engraved miniature replica of the silver cup is displayed. Anyone named as Matson Award winner at three annual conventions is given permanent possession of the large silver trophy.
Jules Braunstein Memorial Award
The Jules Braunstein Memorial Award recognizes the author(s) of the best AAPG poster session paper presented at the annual convention. Funded by the Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies to honor Mr. Braunstein, who recommended and arranged for the first poster session at the 1976 AAPG Annual Meeting, it is an attractive engraved walnut plaque and a cash award of $500.
Geosciences in the Media
The Geosciences in the Media Award is given to a person in recognition of notable journalistic achievement in any medium which contributes to public understanding of geology, energy resources, or the technology of oil and gas exploration. Granting of this award in any year is discretionary. The award is a walnut plaque bearing the words, “For notable journalistic achievement in communications contributing to public understanding of geology.” The award was inaugurated in 1972 by Executive Committee action. In 2006 the name of the award was changed by Executive Committee action from the Journalism Award to the Geosciences in the Media Award.
A.I. Levorsen Memorial Award
The A. I. Levorsen Memorial Award was established as the result of contributions from many individuals and societies who wished to contribute a lasting memorial to A. I. Levorsen. A crystal award mounted on a wood base is given at the regional meetings of the sections of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists for the best paper, with particular emphasis on creative thinking toward new ideas in exploration. The papers are judged by committees established for each meeting and are presented through the local A. I. Levorsen Memorial Award Committee.
Eastern Section | Gulf Coast Section | Mid-Continent Section
Pacific Section | Rocky Mountain Section | Southwest Section
Gabriel Dengo Memorial Award
The Gabriel Dengo Memorial Award (formerly the Best International Paper Award) is given to the speaker presenting, before the AAPG International Conference, the paper judged to be the best, as determined by a judging committee, based on both scientific quality of content and excellence in presentation.
Ziad Beydoun Memorial Award
The Ziad Beydoun Memorial Award (formerly the Best International Poster Award) is given to the author(s) of the best AAPG poster session paper presented at the AAPG International Conference.
FOUNDATION AWARDS
Foundation Weeks Medal Award
The L. Austin Weeks Memorial Medal is given in recognition for extraordinary philanthropy and service directed to advance the mission of the AAPG Foundation. The Foundation award honors the late L. Austin Weeks, whose philanthropic legacy set an exemplary standard.
Foundation Chairman’s Award
The AAPG Foundation Chairman’s Award is given to recognize persons who have made extraordinary contributions (monetary or service) to the AAPG Foundation, and also to call attention to the role and value of the Foundation.
Teacher of the Year Award
The Teacher of the Year Award is given to a K-12 teacher for "Excellence in the Teaching of Natural Resources in the Earth Sciences." Nominations are submitted by AAPG Affiliated Societies and Sections, with the final selection made by a subcommittee of the AAPG Youth Education Activities Committee. Funded by the AAPG Foundation, the winning teacher's school is given $2,500 for the teacher's use in the classroom, and the teacher also receives $2,500 cash, plus an expense paid trip to the next AAPG Annual Meeting to receive the award.
STUDENT PAPER AWARDS
Best Student Oral Presentation
The Best Student Oral Presentation Award is given each year at the Annual Convention of the Association in recognition of the best student paper presented at the current annual convention.
Best Student Poster Presentation
The Best Student Poster Award is given each year at the Annual Convention of the Association in recognition of the best student poster presented at the current annual convention.
Carlos Walter M. Campos Memorial Award
The Carlos Walter M. Campos Memorial Award for Best International Student Paper is given each year in recognition of the best AAPG international student paper presented at the international conventions.
Ozan Sungurlu Memorial Award
The Ozan Sungurlu Memorial Award for Best International Student Poster is given each year in recognition of the best AAPG international student poster presented at the international conventions.