The Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology at Montana Tech has named Dr. Edward T. Ruppel as the recipient of the Uuno Sahinen Silver Medallion. The award is named after former Bureau Director, the late Uuno Sahinen, who is widely recognized for the Bureau’s growth. The Uuno Sahinen Award acknowledges “outstanding contributions in understanding and development of energy, mineral, or groundwater resources in Montana” and is given to an outstanding geologist each year. The award will be presented to Dr. Ruppel at Montana Tech’s Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 18, 2013.
About Dr. Edward T. Ruppel
Originally from Fort Morgan, CO, Ed’s family moved to Montana where he attended school in Twin Bridges, MT. After completing his formal education, Ed was hired as a geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey engaging in both geologic and mineral resources research and in scientific administration. His geological research responsibilities at that time included major studies in Yellowstone National Park, east-central Idaho and southwest Montana. Ed’s contributions to the U. S. Geological Survey were not restricted to research. Ed held the positions of the Deputy Assistant Chief Geologist for the Central Region of the United States and then the Chief of the Branch of Central Environmental Geology, supervising 70 earth scientists engaged in the geologic and related studies in the 13 state Central Region of the Rocky Mountain and High Plains. During this period Ed also served as the Representative of the Chief Geologist of the Rocky Mountain Region.
In 1986 Ed retired from his position at the U.S. Geological Survey and accepted the position as Director of the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology and State Geologist of Montana. During his tenure at the “Bureau”, Ed was an active participant in the Co-GeoMap Program established in 1986, a program that has provided funds for fundamental geologic mapping in Montana for the past 20 years. Ed also directed significant expansion of the MBMG’s groundwater programs, including the Ground Water Assessment Program that began in 1991 and continues today.
Retiring in 1994 from the MBMG, Ed continues to conduct field geological research in the Snowcrest Range in southwest Montana, mapping and resource studies of the Virginia City, mining area, mapping the geology of the Continental Divide Trail and some research for Princeton University of the Beaverhead meteor impact region. In 1992 Ed received the first Tobacco Root Geological Survey Award for excellence in Field work and in 1996 received an Honorary Doctor of Science from the University of Montana.
Ed is a Certified Professional Geologist with the American Institute of Professional Geologist, a Senior Fellow of the Geological Society of America, and Fellow with the Society of Economic and Geologists and a member of the Tobacco Root Geological Society, Montana Geological Society, Colorado Geological Society and the Geological Society of Washington D.C. Throughout his career Ed has authored or co-authored approximately 50 geologic maps and reports.