Richard R. Parizek

Citation

The Hydrogeology Division's Award for Distinguished Service is presented to Richard R. Parizek in recognition of his distinguished contributions in the field of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology and his dedication to the Hydrogeology Division of the Geological Society of America. He supported the Division during its fledgling years and period of explosive growth and has authored or co-authored more than 45 abstracts that were presented at national and sectional meetings with his graduate students and other professionals. Topics included the discovery paper on fracture traces, coal hydrology, environmental geology, glacial geology, treatment of landfill leachate and municipal waste, the permeability of fractured rocks, mine spoils, a unique land classification system, groundwater flow below glaciers, High Plains alkaline lakes, fully coupled flow, deformation, and transport models, remediation of VOCs, environmental ethics, and prediction of brine interfaces. Abstracts included three papers co-authored with his children including a five Parizek co-authored paper on Penn State's Waste Water Irrigation Project. He was co-organizer of a symposia on coal hydrology and on fracture flow, was a Division field trip leader for the 1971 meeting, the Birdsall Distinguished Lecturer in 1983, and was named a GSA Fellow in 1988.

He has advised 94 M.S. and Ph.D. degree recipients who have become outstanding hydrogeologic professionals engaged in teaching, research, consulting, and regulatory work, and company owners or co-owners. He continues to stress the importance of field and laboratory work and observation when developing and testing conceptual models and solving problems. He remains active in the study of fractured rock, glacial, carbonate, and coal bearing terranes, mountain belts and desert basins, and continues to conduct field trips and lectures for public interest and policy groups. He attributes his many accomplishments to a sound upbringing; work ethics; a loving and dedicated wife, Estelle; his four children, all of whom have assisted him in his work; involvement with highly productive graduate students; and a stimulating Penn State work environment. For his many scientific contributions and for his tireless and unending service to the profession, the Hydrogeology Division presents Richard R. Parizek with the Distinguished Service Award.