The Petroleum History Institute named an award for a retired Pitt-Johnstown professor

The Petroleum History Institute (PHI) named its newest education award for William R. Brice, professor emeritus of geology and planetary sciences at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.

The Brice Award will recognize excellence by an educator at any academic level with a focus on the history of the oil and gas industry. It may also be granted to a student for a presentation during a PHI symposium or for a publication in the institute’s journal, Oil-Industry History.

Brice, who taught at the regional campus from 1971-2005, was a founding member and the first president of PHI. He was also a long-time editor of Oil-Industry History and has published or presented over 300 articles and papers about mineral geochemistry, the history of geology, history of the oil and gas industries and biographical studies. 

Currently an associate editor of Earth Sciences History, Brice’s work in geology and history have earned him service awards from PHI and the Geological Society of America, the Mary C. Rabbitt Award for the History of Geology and the Samuel T. Pees Keeper of the Flame Award.