After receiving his Ph.D. from Texas A&M University, Mancini worked for a variety of agencies including the Alabama State Geology Survey and the state's Oil and Gas Board. He served as State Geologist, which eventually led him to the presidency of the American Association of State Geologists.
Twenty years after working with the state survey, Mancini found a desire to expand his knowledge of geology beyond state borders and thus returned to the academic world where he began teaching for the University of Alabama. This not only allowed him to focus on his own research interests in oil and gas, but also gave him the opportunity to assist graduate students, much in the way he remembered being helped as a student himself.
As the current director of the Center for Sedimentary Basin Studies at the University of Alabama, Mancini has graduated three doctorates with four more working on their degrees and another candidate to arrive next year. His current fieldwork in Wyoming, Texas and Louisiana is investigating how to prolong the life of an oil well.
Mancini's exceptional commitment and dedication to the geological sciences has distinguished him amongst professional scientists. His various roles in the geosciences exemplify the goal of the prestigious Ian Campbell award which is given in recognition of singular performance in and contribution to the profession of geology. Mancini will receive recognition at the American Geological Institute Friends of AGI Reception and Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 9 in Denver, Colo.
The American Geological Institute is a nonprofit federation of 43 scientific and professional associations that represent more than 120,000 geologists, geophysicists, and other earth scientists. Founded in 1948, AGI provides information services to geoscientists, serves as a voice of shared interests in our profession, plays a major role in strengthening geoscience education, and strives to increase public awareness of the vital role the geosciences play in society's use of resources and interaction with the environment. More information about AGI can be found at http://www.agiweb.org. The Institute also provides a public-outreach web site, http://www.earthscienceworld.org.