Michael Young Named 2025 Halbouty Distinguished Lecturer
July 28, 2025
The Geological Society of America (GSA) has selected Michael H. Young, the associate dean for research at the Jackson School of Geosciences, to be this year’s Michel T. Halbouty Distinguished Lecturer.
Each year, the Halbouty Lecturer presents an hour-long presentation at the annual meeting of the GSA. Young’s lecture at this year’s meeting in San Antonio will focus on the all-in costs, environmental and economic, of expanding and running an electrical grid for Texas, a topic of relevance to geological resources. The annual meeting brings together over 7,000 geoscientists each year — making it one of the largest gatherings of geosciences professionals in the world.
Young specializes in research at the intersection of energy, environment and economics. That includes one of his most recent research endeavors, the Comparing Electricity Options program, which analyzes the cradle-to-grave costs of different forms of electricity production. Young is also involved with the Texas Soil Observation Network, which monitors soil moisture at dozens of sites in Texas. These data are important for understanding drought and flood risks across the state.
As the associate dean for research, Young is responsible for fostering an active research culture at the school and promoting collaboration across the Jackson School’s three units and with partners across the broader university and beyond. Recently, Young has played a pivotal role in advancing the school’s new Strategic Investment Plan for research, or SIP. Although still in its early stages, the plan seeks to bring together scientists across the Jackson School to advance shared research goals in three key areas: geohazards; energy, resources and global change; and planetary dynamics.
“Working across disciplines is challenging, but the rewards are enormous,” said Young, who is also a research professor at the Jackson School’s Bureau of Economic Geology. “Collaborating with engineers, economists, environmentalists, and other stakeholders builds the kinds of comprehensive solutions needed to address complex societal issues.”
Young is the second winner of a Halbouty Lecture from the Jackson School. Scott Tinker, the director of the Bureau of Economic Geology from 2000-2024, received the honor in 2012.
Halbouty lecturers are selected by the GSA on the basis of career accomplishments and reputation. Young has been part of the Jackson School for 15 years. Before joining the school, he worked in academic institutions, private industry, and for the federal government.
Young is also a fellow of the Geological Society of America, the Soil Science Society of America, and the American Society of Agronomy.
For more information, contact: Anton Caputo, Jackson School of Geosciences, 210-602-2085; Monica Kortsha, Jackson School of Geosciences, 512-471-2241; Constantino Panagopulos, University of Texas Institute for Geophysics, 512-574-7376; Julia Sames, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, 210-415-9556.