Scott Tinker's passion is education. Toward this end, Scott is actively engaged in building bridges between academia, industry, and government. Scott weaves energy, the environment, and the economy into his talks, in which he envisions a very challenging, but positive, global future. In visiting more than 45 countries and numerous cities in the United States, Scott has given more than 400 invited and keynote lectures. His latest educational project is a major documentary film on global energy.

It is from these experiences and passions that Dr. Tinker has developed a vision for America's energy future. He concludes that energy security - available, affordable, reliable, and environmentally sustainable - must drive energy policy and that efficiency and diversity are key elements to long-term energy security. Ultimately, energy security requires a reasoned balance among energy, environment, and the economy.

Dr. Tinker worked in the oil and gas industry for 17 years in research, exploration, and development, prior to coming to The University of Texas at Austin in 2000. Scott has been a licensed professional geoscientist in Texas since 2003. He is very active in professional organizations and societies and is the past President of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and the Association of American State Geologists. He will serve as President of the Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies in 2012. Dr. Tinker also holds appointments to the National Petroleum Council and the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, and he currently serves on several private, university, and professional boards.

Dr. Tinker is the Director of the Bureau of Economic Geology (BEG) and the Director of the Advanced Energy Consortium. He is also the acting Associate Dean for Research and Professor, and he holds the Allday Endowed Chair in the Jackson School of Geosciences at The University of Texas at Austin. He graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in Geology and Business Administration from Trinity University. He received his M.S. in Geology from the University of Michigan and his Ph.D. in Geosciences from the University of Colorado.

Areas of Expertise

Global energy supply and demand, Technology Administration, Multidisciplinary reservoir characterization, Carbonate sedimentology, Sequence stratigraphy, 3-D reservoir modeling, Resource assessment.


Current Research Programs & Projects

Statoil Gulf Services, partnership to support the corporate Partners Program and Career Services at the Jackson School of Geosciences.

Principal Investigator for the Shell Oil Company, Shell-UT Unconventionals Research (SUTUR) partnership.

Principal Investigator, Transitioning the Energy Mix: Taking Natural Gas Seriously, A Sloan Foundation research grant.

Principal Investigator and Director, Advanced Energy Consortium


GSA Fellow - Geological Society of America (2012)

Halbouty Distinguished Lecturer - Geological Society of America (2012)

President, American Association of Petroleum Geologists (2008 - 2009)

President, Association of American State Geologists (2006 - 2007)

Member, National Petroleum Council (2006)

Member, Department of Geosciences Advisory Board, University of Michigan (2006)

Member, Strategic Planning Council, John A. and Katherine G. Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin (2005)

Chairman, Future Global Oil Supply/Demand Balance: Workshop on Trends in Oil Supply and Demand and Potential for Peaking of Conventional Oil Production, The National Academies, National Research Council (2005)

Member, Search Committee for Energy and Mineral Resources Director, Department of Geological Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin (2005)

Member, Search Committee for Carbonate Chair, Department of Geological Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin (2005)

Liaison, Texas Technology Initiative, The University of Texas at Austin (2005)

Lead Member, Advanced Energy Consortium Formation, Texas Technology Initiative, State of Texas (2005)

Member, State Strategy on Advanced Technology, Texas Technology Initiative, State of Texas (2005)

Member, Texas Energy ClusterTechnology Working Group, State Strategy on Advanced Technology, State of Texas (2005)

Member, Texas Energy Cluster, State Strategy on Advanced Technology, State of Texas (2005)

Member, Planning Group for Workshop on Issues Related to Peaking of Global Oil Production, The National Academies, National Research Council (2005)

Member, Permanence Subcommittee, Petroleum Technology Transfer Council (2005)

, Center for International Energy and Environmental Policy (CIEEP), The University of Texas at Austin (2005)

Leader, Advisory Board, FutureGen Texas (2005)

Member, Committee to Implement the AASG/USGS MOU, Association of American State Geologists (2005)

Leader, Management Team, FutureGen Texas (2005)

Session Chair, Future Global Oil Supply/Demand Balance, National Research Council Workshop on Trends in Oil Supply and Demand and Potential for Peaking of Conventional Oil Production (2005)

Panelist, High Oil Prices, Discussion hosted by economics professors at The University of Texas at Austin (2005)

Panelist, Developing People: Education, Training, and Cultural Diversity, International Petroleum Technology Conference and Exhibition, sponsored by AAPG, EAGE, SEG, and SPE (2005)

Vice Chair for SEPM, American Association of Petroleum Geologists (2004)

Member, House of Delegates, AAPG, Austin Geological Society (2004)

Co-Chair, Forum on the Future of Global Energy: Technical, Environmental, Economic, and Policy Issues (DEG/SEPM/EMD), 2004 American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Meeting (2004)

Vice President, Association of American State Geologists (2004 - 2005)

Member, Ad Hoc Committee for Annual Meeting Planning, SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology) (2004)

Member, Future Collaboration Advisory Committee, Jackson School of Geosciences and College of Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin (2004 - 2005)

Advisor, Energy Planning Council, State of Texas (2004)

Member, Permian Basin Section, SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology) (2004)

Session Chair, Annual Meeting, American Association of Petroleum Geologists (2004)

Chair, Chancellor's Committee for Sandia National Lab Collaboration, The University of Texas at Austin (2004 - 2005)

Member, State Strategy on Advanced Technology, State of Texas (2004 - 2005)

Member, Executive Committee, Association of American State Geologists (2004)

Member, Awards Committee, Subcommittee on Pick and Gavel Awards, Association of American State Geologists (2004)

Member, Booth Committee, Association of American State Geologists (2004)

Alternate, Geological Society of America Affiliated Societies, Association of American State Geologists (2004)

Member, Jackson School of Geosciences and College of Engineering Future Collaboration Advisory Committee, John A. and Katherine G. Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin (2004 - 2005)

Member, Geological Society of America (2003)

Member, Search Committee for Sedimentary Geologist, Department of Geological Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin (2003)

Member, SPE Primer Committee, Society of Petroleum Engineers (2003)

Member, Lead for USGS Central States Cluster, Association of American State Geologists (2003)

Member, Board on Energy and Environmental Systems, The National Academies, National Research Council (2003 - 2006)

Chairman, Energy and Mineral Policy Committee, Association of American State Geologists (2002)

Technical Program Chairman, Steering Committee, Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies (2002)

Distinguished Lecturer, Society of Petroleum Engineers (2002 - 2003)

Member, Board of Advisors, iReservoir.com (2002)

Member, Advisory Committee, Service to Society Committee of the Commission of 125, The University of Texas at Austin (2002 - 2003)

President, Austin Geological Society (2002 - 2003)

Member, Oil Field Cleanup Fund Advisory Committee, appointed by Lieutenant Governor Bill Ratliff, State of Texas (2001)

Session Chair, Annual Meeting, American Association of Petroleum Geologists (2001)

Member, International Committee, APPEX (Property and Prospect Exposition) (2001)

Member, Dean's Committee on the Formation of the Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin (2001)

Member, Vice President's Committee on ACES Energy Proposal, The University of Texas at Austin (2001)

Member, Executive Committee, John A. and Katherine G. Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin (2001)

Member, Organizing Committee, APPEX (Property and Prospect Exposition) (2001)

President-elect, Austin Geological Society (2001 - 2002)

Member, American Institute of Professional Geologists (2001)

Foundation Trustee, American Geological Institute Foundation (2001)

Member, Earth Science Education Committee, (2001)

Member, Graduate Studies Committee, Department of Geological Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin (2001)

Member, Budget Council, Department of Geological Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin (2001)

Member, Earth Science Education Committee, Association of American State Geologists (2001)

Member, Steering Committee, John A. and Katherine G. Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin (2001 - 2005)

Member, Faculty Review Committee, The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Geological Sciences (2000 - 2001)

Member, U.S. Potential Gas Committee, Association of American State Geologists (2000)

Member, Liaison Committee, Association of American State Geologists (2000)

Field Trip Leader, WTGS/AAPG Southwest Section, Carlsbad, New Mexico, February-March, West Texas Geological Society (2000)

Member, Board of Visitors, Trinity University (2000)

Member, Producer Advisory Group, Petroleum Technology Transfer Council (2000)

Director, Texas Regional Lead Organization, Petroleum Technology Transfer Council (2000)

Member, Core and Sample Preservation Committee, American Association of Petroleum Geologists (2000)

Member, Austin Geological Society (2000)

Member, Society of Exploration Geophysicists (2000)

Member, University Advisory Board, CLEER (Center for Legislative Energy and Environmental Research) (2000)

Member, Energy and Mineral Policy Committee, Association of American State Geologists (2000)

Member, Continental Margins Committee, Association of American State Geologists (2000)

Member, Association of American State Geologists (2000)

Member, Coastal Processes Committee, Association of American State Geologists (2000)

Field Seminar Subcommittee Chairman, Education Committee, American Association of Petroleum Geologists (1999 - 2005)

Technical Session Judge, Annual Meeting, American Association of Petroleum Geologists (1999)

Short Course Instructor, SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geologists) (1999)

Member, Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies (1999)

Field Seminar Leader, American Association of Petroleum Geologists (1998 - 2000)

Session Chair, SPE/SEG Forum, Society of Exploration Geophysicists (1998)

Short Course Instructor, SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geologists) (1997)

Associate Editor, AAPG Bulletin, American Association of Petroleum Geologists (1997 - 1999)

Distinguished Lecturer, American Association of Petroleum Geologists (1997 - 1998)

Member, Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists (1997)

Technical Session Judge, Annual Meeting, American Association of Petroleum Geologists (1996)

Member, Client Advisory Board (3 years), Schlumberger Doll Research (1996)

Session Chair, Annual Meeting, American Association of Petroleum Geologists (1994)

Technical Session Judge, Annual Meeting, American Association of Petroleum Geologists (1993)

Session Chair, Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., Society of Petroleum Engineers (1993)

Member, West Texas Geological Society (1993)

Member, Development Geology and Geophysics Committee, Society of Petroleum Engineers (1992 - 1994)

Member, SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geologists) (1984)

Member, American Association of Petroleum Geologists (1982)

Member, Society of Petroleum Engineers (1982)

Graduate Students

Forrest Roberts, M.S., expected 2013

Logan M West, M.S., expected 2013

Andrew Nicholson, M.S., 2012


Bureau of Economic Geology

BEG Directorate

Dr. Tinker's Website

Dr. Tinker's Lectures, Outreach & Films