HISTORY OF GEOLOGY STUDENT AWARD: DORIS MALKIN CURTIS: 103RD GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA PRESIDENT AND COMMITTED SCIENCE EDUCATOR AND STUDENT MENTOR

Known for her role as a prominent geologist and the 103rd president of the Geological Society of America, Doris Malkin Curtis (1914-1991) committed her life to furthering the field of geology in new and innovative ways. While she benefited the field of geology greatly as a professor, researcher, staff geologist, and the first female president of the GSA, her true legacy is in her ability to connect with students and colleagues alike--to form lasting mentoring relationships.

Throughout her career she not only pursued geology as an intellectual passion but she loved to teach young geology students. Many of her students recall her as someone who was one of their earliest mentors and ensured that they had the opportunity to get on committees and involved with unique research opportunities. Many of Cutis’s past mentees credit Curtis with their eventual success in the geophysical sciences and speak of how it was her guidance and support that encouraged them to enter careers based in research and pursue involvement in technical organizations. Curtis was particularly committed to mentoring other women interested in the sciences and worked to encourage women to persevere in scientific careers. She understood the importance of her role as one of only a few prominent women geologists at the time and ensured that she supported and recognized the women in science who would follow her. Curtis was also committed to public understanding of geological science, mentoring minority students in the sciences, and improving science education.

In her honor a number of awards are presented annually from various prominent geological organizations to support her goals of supporting women in science and funding research of new geological areas, especially in the Gulf of Mexico region, where Curtis spent a number of years researching hydrocarbons and time-synchronous sandstone deltas.