News Story Archive

2014 New Mexico Earth Science Achievement Awards

Press Release by New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources
Published Jan. 16, 2014
In January of this year the winners of the 2014 New Mexico Earth Science Achievement Awards were announced. This year the awards will go to Marcy L. Leavitt for outstanding contributions advancing the role of earth science in areas of public service and public policy in New Mexico, and to Dr. David S. Gutzler of the University of New Mexico for outstanding contributions advancing the role of earth science in areas of applied science and education in New Mexico. These awards, sponsored by the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, a division of New Mexico Tech in Socorro, were initiated in 2003 to honor those often unrecognized champions of earth science issues vital to the future of New Mexico. Selections were made following a statewide nomination process.

This year’s presentation will occur at 12:30 p.m. in the rotunda of the state capitol building on Wednesday, January 29, during the legislative session, in conjunction with Earth Science Day. Several agencies will be staffing tables and displays in the west wing of the Roundhouse from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on that day. The presentations will be made by L. Greer Price, director of the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources. The public is invited to visit the Roundhouse throughout the day and to attend the ceremony.

Marcy Leavitt is currently Texas/New Mexico branch chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Albuquerque District Regulatory Division. Prior to joining the USACOE in January 2012, Marcy spent 23 years with the New Mexico Environment Department, where she served as bureau chief of both the Ground Water Quality Bureau (1993-2003) and the Surface Water Quality Bureau (2003-2008). She has had a long and illustrious career as a guardian of New Mexico’s water resources.

Dave Gutzler is Professor in the Earth & Planetary Sciences Department at University of New Mexico, where he has taught since 1995. His research specialties include climate change, statistical climatology, and the predictability of weather and climate. Throughout his career he has been devoted to the dissemination of climate science to the public and to policy makers.

The New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources is a non-regulatory research and service division of the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in Socorro. For 87 years the bureau has served as the geological survey for the state of New Mexico. Nominations for next year’s awards are welcome from the general public and may be made directly to the director of the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources.

For More Information, Contact:
L. Greer Price, Director & State Geologist
New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources
New Mexico Tech
801 Leroy Place
Socorro, NM 87801
(575) 835-5752