By Richard LeComte

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Frank Ettensohn, Ph.D., P.G., C.P.G., University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences  professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, has received two awards from the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. 

He received an honorary membership, which is given to participants who distinguished themselves in their service to the association. He also received the Eastern Section John T. Galey Award, the highest honor the group gives. The award recognizes geoscientists whose accomplishments and contributions to the profession have been directed toward the betterment of society. 

“The geological community generally and our department specifically have collectively benefited from the remarkable contributions professor Ettensohn has made during his nearly five decades in the profession; these prestigious awards are certainly well deserved,” said Edward Woolery, Ph.D, chair of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Ettensohn is an internationally recognized and widely published expert in sedimentary geology and paleontology. He has more than 200 publications, including 128 refereed papers and more than 5,600 citations. 

His primary research areas include the geology of Kentucky and the Appalachian Basin as well as U.S. gas shales and a series of guidebooks that he and his students wrote has modernized the understanding of Kentucky geology. One of these guidebooks, "Changing Interpretations of Kentucky Geology: Layer-Cake, Facies, Flexure and Eustacy," is often referred to as the bible of Kentucky geology. He also is a leader in the uncovering and study of ancient earthquakes. 

He is most proud of his work with students, having advised 38 M.S. and 12 Ph.D. students to degree completion. He indicates that interactions with students and colleagues have been the source of much creativity in his teaching and research. 

“Many of my best ideas were generated by the need to explain complex ideas more simply for students and colleagues,” he said.