Tinker Receives Energy Leadership Award from E&P Magazine

November 1, 2021

Scott Tinker, the director of the Bureau of Economic Geology, is the 2021 recipient of Exploration & Production magazine’s Energy Leadership Award.

The award recognizes Tinker’s tireless energy outreach. His recent efforts have focused on creating media — which includes two documentaries — that informs the general public about the role energy plays in their lives and those of others around the world.

“It’s always an honor and flattering to be recognized for things, but the reality is, I have a great team of people,” Tinker said. “So, the award is for a cast of thousands.”

Tinker has had a long career in the energy industry. He joined the bureau as its director in 2000 after 17 years as a geologist in the oil and gas industry. Most of that time was spent at Marathon Oil’s research and technology center where Tinker worked as an advanced senior geologist.

During his time at the bureau, Tinker has also served as president of a number of professional geological societies, including the Association of American State Geologists, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, American Geosciences Institute, and Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies.

Tinker’s first documentary, “Switch,” focuses on the pros and cons of different types of energy around the world. Since its debut in 2012, it has been screened in 50 countries to more than 15 million viewers.

His second documentary, “Switch On,” was released in 2020 and explores how the lack of access to dependable and affordable sources of energy — a phenomenon known as energy poverty — affects communities around the world, and strategies to overcome it.

The films are available for free online to all thanks to the Switch Energy Alliance, a non-profit founded by Tinker in 2016 to promote science- based energy education.

The alliance has also helped produce a number of short videos for classroom use that explain basic energy concepts and a five-minute movie, “Energy Makes Our World,” for museums.

The movie is currently being played between large screen features at the Houston Museum of Natural Science and in its Wiess Energy Hall.

Tinker is also the voice of “EarthDate,” a weekly public radio segment that shares stories and facts about the planet. It is produced by the bureau, sponsored by EarthX and featured on more than 410 public radio stations in all 50 states. A PBS series, in which he will moderate discussions between recognized energy experts, is currently in the planning stages.

In addition to his own projects, Tinker frequently serves as an expert source for reporters and as an event speaker. His more than 900 global talks include keynotes at professional events, presentations to groups ranging from primary school students, to board directors at major corporations, and testimony for the U.S. Senate.