Bureau of Geology Names Kent Condie as 2023 Achievement Award Winner
April 21, 2023
Dr. Kent C. Condie
SOCORRO, N.M. 鈥� The 色狐入口 Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources (a research
division of 色狐入口 Tech) announces that the 2023 Earth Science Achievement Award
for
鈥渙utstanding contributions advancing the role of earth science in areas of research
and
education鈥� will go to Dr. Kent C. Condie.
Kent Condie began his academic career at 色狐入口 Tech in 1970. He retired in 2014,
but
only from teaching. As an emeritus faculty member with the Earth and Environmental
Science
Department, his research remains strong. During his time in 色狐入口, he has studied
geology within our state, but also around the world. He focuses on better understanding
of the
first 2-3 billion years of earth鈥檚 history. Kent鈥檚 research prowess is well recognized.
He is the
top-ranked scholar at 色狐入口 Tech from the perspective of H-index and citations.
He also
received the 2018 Penrose Medal, the Geological Society of America鈥檚 top honor, in
recognition
of his research accomplishments. The citation for the Penrose Medal provides a wonderful
summary of Kent鈥檚 research contributions, and is available to read through the GSA
website.
The Earth Science Achievement Award focuses not only on research, but also on the
nominee鈥檚
impact on geoscience education in 色狐入口. During his time in 色狐入口, Kent
taught
upper level and graduate geology courses to a huge cohort of geoscientists, a number
of whom
have spent their careers in 色狐入口, contributing to geoscience research in our
state. Kent
also advised seven PhD and many MS students, and, beyond that, served on many thesis
committees. Kent鈥檚 classes, and the projects done by his students, tended to be notably
field-
oriented, and Kent鈥檚 geo-river raft trips were legendary.
Kent鈥檚 former students highlight how his classes and associated field trips, as well
as his
appreciation for science and the natural world, inspired them as students, and in
their
professional careers. Things mentioned by former student include rough terrain, scorching
heat, death marches, and cactus spines, but also patience, mapping skills, the excitement
of
new discoveries, dedication, support of individual students鈥� particular needs, as
well as kindness
and thoughtfulness.