Matt Malkowski Wins AAPG Foundation’s Inspirational Geoscience Educator Award
July 24, 2026
The AAPG Foundation has named Matt Malkowski, an assistant professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the Jackson School of Geosciences, as the recipient of their 2026 Inspirational Geoscience Educator Award.
Malkowski is the 15th recipient of the annual award, which recognizes university and college educators who demonstrate exceptional creativity, excellence, and dedication in inspiring the next generation of geoscientists.
“I’m deeply honored to receive the 2026 Inspirational Geoscience Educator Award from the AAPG Foundation,” Malkowski said. “Teaching has always been a part of this career I find immensely rewarding, whether that’s watching a student discover new concepts in the field or seeing former mentees go on to build their own careers in geoscience. This recognition means a great deal to me, and I thank my students, past and present, who have made this journey so fulfilling, as well as my colleagues and mentors who’ve shaped how I teach.”
Malkowski was selected for the award based on the recommendation letters from five students, his curriculum vitae and his course materials. He was not even aware that he had been nominated until he received a call from AAPG Foundation Secretary Valary Schulz, who let him know that he had been selected.
“After reading the heartfelt letters from his students and colleagues, it was clear he embodies everything the Inspirational Geoscience Educator Award represents,” said Schulz. “His passion for teaching and commitment to experiential learning are making a lasting impact on the next generation of geoscientists.”
As part of the honor, Malkowski will receive a $10,000 award and will be recognized during the AAPG Foundation Chairman’s Reception at IMAGE ’26 in Houston.
“Recognizing, rewarding and celebrating excellence in geoscience education is one of our highest priorities,” said Jim McGhay, chairman of the AAPG Foundation Board of Trustees. “Dr. Malkowski’s passion for teaching and dedication to his students make him an outstanding recipient of this award. We are proud to recognize an educator whose influence will be reflected in the success of his students for years to come.”
Malkowski teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in field geology, sedimentology, and stratigraphy and has played a key role in modernizing the department’s field-based curriculum.
Peter Flemings, the chair of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, praised Malkowski’s impact on the department.
“We are proud that in the last five years, the (department) has modernized our curriculum, and that we have doubled the size of our undergraduate program,” Flemings said. “The extraordinary class that Matt has developed has played a large role in this modernization. He is a force and is entraining the next generation of geoscientists.”
The AAPG Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports educational and research programs to benefit the geological profession and the public, with emphasis on petroleum and energy geoscience, energy minerals, and environmental geoscience.
This story is adapted from a press release by the AAPG Foundation.