József Tóth
The best way to explain why József Tóth changed the way that hydrogeologists see groundwater flow systems is to cite how he was introduced in January 2004, when he received the M. King Hubbert Award in Orlando: “When it comes to predicting the movement and location of groundwater, few in the world have made as big a splash as Dr. József Tóth. […] Tóth’s biggest breakthrough is a mathematical formula used to explain how groundwater moves under the influence of gravity. It is used to predict the location of drinking water, the migration of hydrocarbons, the generation of various ore deposits, and to understand the distribution of vegetation and the origin of soil salinity.” His work has been recognised in numerous ways. Amongst other awards, Toth won the first O.E. Meinzer Award from the Geological Society of America’s Hydrogeology Division for his earliest publications and in recognition of distinguished contributions to hydrogeology.