John Shanklin

EFG MEDAL of MERIT No. 1
JOHN SHANKLIN
  
John Shanklin has for a long time been deeply involved in the politics of geology in UK. He helped to create the Institution of Geologists (IG) and later was involved in the merger of that organization with the Geological Society. This led to the establishment of the title Chartered Geologist.
 

John Shanklin has given over 20 years of his life to the EFG. At the end of the Seventies, he was one of the group of far-sighted geologists who understood the necessity for geologists across Europe to join together to protect and to develop their profession.
 
Thus in July 1980, when the Federation was born, John was elected to be the first President. He successfully guided the EFG through its formative years, helping to develop its policies, to draft the first dossiers and to start the process of enlargement. So in 1983 he was able to hand over to the late Renzo Zia a fast-growing organisation.
 
Then in 1989 when he was attending the World Geological Congress in Washington, USA, he met Bill Knight and other members of the American Institute of Professional Geologists. This lead to the exchange of information and visits which culminated in the establishment of reciprocal associate membership in 1998 between our organisations.
When John ceased to be the UK’s delegate, he was soon drafted in to serve on the Registration Committee for the EurGeol title. Here he has served diligently, first under Franz Goerlich and now under Eric Groessens.

The EFG owes a huge debt to John Shanklin and I am proud to propose him to be awarded the first Honorary European Geologist title, on the EFG’s 20th. Birthday.
 
PROPOSER: EurGeol Gareth Ll. Jones, President
SECONDER: Gunnar Hultquist, Past-President