A famously festive city that boasts historical shrines, a celebrated “Riverwalk” and the excitement of “Fiesta!” is about to become the focus of the AAPG universe.
The 2008 AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition – the Association’s 93rd annual meeting – will be held April 20-23 in San Antonio at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.
It marks the fifth time that San Antonio and the South Texas Geological Society are serving as hosts for the meeting, and the first time since 1999.
The meeting’s theme – “Deliver the Conventional; Pursue the Unconventional” – already has generated a large amount of excitement, with the early pre-registration numbers running among the top annual meetings ever.
“The attendance is apparently going to be higher than we ever anticipated, said Gene Ames III, the meeting general chair, “and we are pleasantly surprised at the response to the short courses and field trips that are being offered.”
He was referring to the 16 short courses and 12 field trips that cover the latest in geosciences knowledge and technical advances – everything from carbon sequestration to 3-D seismic interpretation to professional ethics.
Also appealing are the more than 1,000 oral papers and posters that will advance the science of geology, plus nine forums or special sessions that promise to be compelling, informative and often provocative. Forum topics include:
- Global Climate Change.
- Economics of Natural Gas and Alternative Energy.
- Discovery Thinking.
- The Future of Unconventional Resource Plays.
- Embracing Diversity in a Global Work Force.
Famed oil man Ray L. Hunt will provide this year’s Michel T. Halbouty Lecture, speaking on “Distinguishing Successful Wildcatters: How Your Company Can be Among the Best.”
Add to that the various luncheon speakers, a large exhibits hall filled with the latest in information and technology and a variety of entertainment and culture activities, and convention organizers say you have the setting for a superb conference.
“You can expect numerous opportunities to interact with a variety of professionals, scientists and leaders in your industry,” Ames said.
“You will be educated on recent advances in new and unconventional plays, assessment of risk, bypassed pay and new insights into climate change and source rocks among other things,” he added.
And then there are the cultural attractions.
“There will be plenty to do after the convention closes for the day,” Ames said “San Antonio is rich in culture and those that have never been here, especially during Fiesta, are in for a big surprise.”
The convention officially starts at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 20, with the opening session, featuring AAPG President Will Green’s address plus the presentation of AAPG honors and awards.
The traditional Icebreaker event begins one hour later in the exhibits hall.
This year’s opening session also will feature the presentation of a new AAPG Foundation award.
The awards ceremony itself will feature the posthumous awarding of the Sidney Powers Memorial Medal, AAPG’s highest honor, to Fred Meissner, who died in September, shortly after being told he would receive the award.
Also being honored posthumously will be John D. “Jack” Edwards, one of this year’s recipients of a Distinguished Service Award.
Other meeting highlights include:
- The Career Center, located in room 207, will offer a variety of tools and special events for attendees to connect to employment opportunities, including two “Seven-Minute Power Networking” events at 3 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday.
- Morning and afternoon refreshment breaks will be offered both April 21-22 in the exhibits hall.
- The Sundowner Reception – the official end to the meeting – will be held Wednesday at 5-6:30 p.m. at the convention center.