Brian Horton First to Receive SEPM Dickinson Medal

November 9, 2017

The Jackson School of Geosciences’ Brian Horton is the inaugural recipient of the Society for Sedimentary Geology (SEPM) William R. Dickinson Award.

The award, which includes a medal featuring Dickinson’s likeness, recognizes a mid-career research geoscientist who is significantly influencing the sedimentary geology community with innovative work, according to the SEPM. Awardees are expected to have a track record of impactful publications, and to have established an influential research program and pioneering approaches.

“Contributions to major shifts in scientific thinking, via original and innovating data generation, tools and analyses, which help solve broad geological questions are hallmarks of a Dickinson Medal awardee,” according to the SEPM description of the award.

Horton is a professor in the Department of Geological Sciences and a research professor at the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics. His research focuses on sedimentary basin development and mountain building. Recent research includes investigating the connection between geological processes, such as tectonic uplift, magmatism, erosion and sedimentation, with the Amazonian biology and climate.

“I am very proud of Brian and his research achievements,” said Jackson School Dean Sharon Mosher. “Brian is one of the absolute best in the field as a researcher and a professor. He is helping the Jackson School maintain and grow its reputation as one of the best in the world in sedimentary geology. I believe the SEPM made the right choice in recognizing Brain’s important and innovative work.”

The award’s namesake, William R. Dickinson, was a geoscientist known for broadening the applications for sedimentological analysis, including developing the Gazzi-Dickinson method for statistically measuring components in a sedimentary rock.