Citation by Robert Reed
Dr. Michael H. Young is the 2025 Michel T. Halbouty Distinguished Lecturer. Michael is a Research Professor and Associate Dean for Research at the Bureau of Economic Geology of the Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin. His expertise bridges the three scientific themes of Bureau of Economic Geology: Energy, Environment, and Economics. Through his involvement in the Comparing Electricity Options program and the Texas Soil Observation Network, his scientific work covers topics important to the future of the planet. By seeking to understand the environmental and economic impacts of both climate and human activity, Michael has forwarded our understanding of the water/energy nexus, soil/water/plant interactions, and connections between water resources, arid and semi-arid landscape development, and human interactions. Michael has authored or co-authored nearly 100 peer-reviewed journal articles, several book chapters, and given more than 200 presentations at scholarly meetings.
A fellow of GSA, the Soil Science Society of America, and the American Society of Agronomy, Michael believes in bridging divides between scientific disciplines and encourages these endeavors by his students and colleagues.
As the Associate Dean for Research of the Jackson School of Geosciences, Michael is responsible for fostering an active research culture at the school and promoting collaboration across the Jackson School’s three disparate units and with partners across the broader university and around the world. Recently, Michael has played a pivotal role in advancing the school’s new Strategic Investment Plan for research. This research plan seeks to bring together scientists across the Jackson School to advance shared research goals in three globally important areas: geohazards; energy, resources and global change; and planetary dynamics. Michael’s extensive background as a geoscientist makes him ideal for a role in leading this plan.
Response by Michael H. Young
I am incredibly grateful and honored to receive this year’s Michel T. Halbouty Lectureship by GSA. Thank you, Rob Reed and the Grants and Awards Committee at the Bureau of Economic Geology for nominating me and thanks to my colleagues and students. The BEG and the Jackson School of Geosciences at UT Austin have been my intellectual home for over 15 years. It’s hard to overstate my gratitude for the opportunity to work with such great colleagues, scientists, and students throughout my time here. I have tried in my career to bridge disciplines and find common threads that can be missed when topics are too narrowly defined. Working across disciplines is challenging, but the rewards are enormous. Collaborating with engineers, economists, environmentalists, and other stakeholders can build better solutions needed to address complex societal issues that involve these important resources. We as geoscientists cannot do it alone, and these other stakeholder groups need us too. Many thanks again for this great honor!