by Niki Shah and Carly Orewiler
Lowell Waite, geosciences lecturer at UT Dallas, received the 2023 Distinguished Educator Award from The Southwest Section of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (SWS AAPG).
Waite earned the prestigious honor for his excellence in teaching and dedication to petroleum geology education. The award is given to only one recipient annually among Texas and New Mexico geological societies.
With over 40 years of teaching experience, Waite inspires students by creating a positive classroom environment and promoting critical thinking through research. He co-directs UTD’s Permian Basin Research Laboratory, which analyses one of the world’s largest and most important oil and gas fields. It spans approximately 86,000 square miles and is estimated to contain more than 281 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
“It’s a critical energy source that drives our economy and symbolizes technological innovation. Educating students about the Permian Basin empowers them to become stewards of a sustainable future and leaders in the global energy industry.”
Waite is passionate about proactive strategies to minimize the industry’s environmental impact, including transitioning to cleaner fuels, increasing energy efficiency and carbon capture and storage.
He is eager to learn from his students, too.
“Teaching is a two-way street,” he said. “You have to be open to new ideas and perspectives, and you have to be willing to adapt your teaching style to meet the needs of your students.”
One of Waite’s former students, who now works at Fasken Oil and Ranch as a geoscience technician, says he was not only an outstanding professor and mentor, but he also became a dear friend.
“Lowell is one of the most knowledgeable petroleum geologists that I know, and even after I graduated and started my career, I still keep in contact with him,” Polly Fleischmann said. “I cannot thank him enough for the encouragement and guidance he provided throughout my graduate experience, and I know many students and alumni feel the same way. If it were up to me, I’d give him one hundred Distinguished Educator Awards!”
Looking ahead, Waite sees the field of petroleum geology evolving rapidly in the next five to 10 years, driven by technological advances, energy policy changes and growing concerns about climate change. He plans to adapt his teaching to these changes by incorporating more interdisciplinary approaches to safety and responsible resource management.
“We’re thrilled to see Lowell Waite receive the SWS AAPG Distinguished Educator Award,” said Dr. David Lumley, geosciences professor and department head. “His commitment to educating students on sustainable practices in the industry is critical for the future of geoscience. He is invaluable to our department, and we are proud to have him on our faculty.”
Waite will attend the annual award ceremony in May 2023 to receive his award. He is the third recipient from UT Dallas to receive this award.
“I am so grateful for my mentors and colleagues who have inspired and supported me throughout my career,” Waite said. “We have an obligation to equip our students with knowledge and skills to tackle the challenges of the future, and I’m fortunate to play a role in their education.”
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