Thomas S. Ahlbrandt
Thomas S. Ahlbrandt,
a candidate for AAPG vice president, is world energy project
chief for the U.S. Geological Survey in Denver.
A native of Veteran,
Wyo., he received his bachelor's and doctorate in geology
at the University of Wyoming.
Ahlbrandt began
his professional career with Exxon Production Research in
1973 before joining the USGS in Denver, where he worked
from 1974-78 before joining MRO and Associates. In 1981
he became general partner with Petrostrat Exploration, where
he worked until 1988, when he rejoined the USGS.
At the survey, Ahlbrandt
has held several positions, including branch chief of petroleum
geology, associate office chief for energy programs, and
chief scientist for central region energy programs (acting).
He also served in
the U.S. Army Reserves.
Joining AAPG in
1979, Ahlbrandt is a delegate of the AAPG House and was
elected chairman in 1995-96. He also served on the Technical
Program Committee, the Geophysical Integration Committee
and is presently a member of the Resource Evaluation Committee,
the Convention Committee and is technical program chairman
of the Denver 2001 AAPG annual meeting. He has also served
as the AAPG representative to the American Association for
the Advancement of Science Council.
Active in the Rocky
Mountain Association of Geologists, Ahlbrandt was named
Outstanding Scientist by the group in 1999.
Why I Accepted the Invitation to be a Candidate for AAPG Office
By Thomas S. Ahlbrandt
It is an honor
to be considered as a candidate for vice president of AAPG. AAPG
is an organization of international recognition, and its global
role on behalf of geoscientists will increase as the need for resources
continues to grow.
My decision to run for this
office stems from my interest in the future of AAPG and its members.
I have worked in the United
States and in foreign positions, both as a member of the petroleum
industry and as an employee of the U.S. Geological Survey. My focus
on the future of geoscientists is a long-held concern.
As a delegate and later
chairman of the House of Delegates, I sponsored the effort resulting
in the formation of the Future of Earth Scientists as a standing
committee of the House. As technical program chairman for the 2001
annual meeting in Denver, my interest in the future is reflected
in the program emphasizing the changing role of natural gas relative
to oil, petroleum systems of the world and coping with the technological
revolution the industry is absorbing. During my recent tour as AAPG
liaison to the 143,000-member American Association for the Advancement
of Science (AAAS), I organized a symposium sponsored by AAPG titled
"Petroleum: The Past, Present and Future of a Needed Resource."
The list of symposium speakers at the 1998 AAAS meeting in Philadelphia
reflect the best of AAPG and included Sam Pees, William Brice, Edward
David, Lee Gerhard, Arthur Green, Marcus Milling and Marlan Downey.
The concept of this symposium was to raise the profile of geoscientists
in the broader scientific community and look to the future; I believe
these objectives were accomplished.
I am the World Energy project
chief at the USGS, where I led a team that recently completed a
new assessment of the conventional undiscovered oil and gas resources
of the world. Products of this project are digital and focus on
the quantities and location of future oil and gas resources of the
world. These digital products are hopefully useful to geoscientists
in all parts of the world.
These various endeavors
cause me a heightened awareness of the need to plan for the future
of geoscientists worldwide. The Executive Committee has an opportunity
to provide direction as to the appropriate curriculum for geoscientists,
guiding geoscientists to new technical horizons and mentoring younger
generations of geoscientists who will provide the critical resources
needed for the world. Geoscience will either become the pivotal
science in this century as populations grow and resource needs escalate,
according to some; or may gradually atrophy as other disciplines
replace us.
I believe that geoscientists
are of critical importance in the coming century, and as a member
of the Executive Committee I would encourage the educational, technological
and outreach components for future geoscientists to step into these
roles.
Donald W. Lewis
Donald
W. Lewis,
a candidate for vice president of AAPG, is a consultant
in Lafayette, Calif., having previously worked for Chevron
for 37 years.
A Los Angeles native,
Lewis received his bachelor's degree in geology from the
California Institute of Technology and his master's degree
in geology from Northwestern University.
After joining Chevron
in 1958, his career was equally divided between exploration
assignments in the western United States and international
venues, plus assignments with the Corporate Computer Service
and Corporate Planning groups.
Beginning with field
work in Utah and then on the North Slope of Alaska, his
U.S. work included seven years working in the San Joaquin
Basin of California. Turning to international exploration,
Lewis spent five years in Australia and Indonesia, and then
managed Chevron's exploration in Asia Pacific and Europe
for another nine years.
His most recent
positions were general manager of exploration for the western
U.S. and corporation chief geologist.
An AAPG member since
1958, Lewis is a member of the House of Delegates, has been
chair of the House Nominations Committee and currently serves
as chair of the House Future of Earth Scientists committee.
He has been a speaker in the Visiting Geologist Program,
technical program coordinator for the 1996 AAPG annual meeting
in San Diego, has served on the Standing Technical Program
and Corporate Liaison committees, and is chair of the Earth
Science Teacher of the Year subcommittee of the Youth Education
and Activities Committee.
An AAPG Foundation
Trustee Associate, Lewis represents the Pacific Section
on the AAPG Advisory Council and is a charter member of
the Division of Environmental Geosciences.
Lewis is immediate
past-president of the Northern California Geological Society.
He pursues his interest in Earth Science K-12 education
by serving on the American Geological Institute's Advisory
Committees for two new earth Science Curricula, Investigating
Earth Systems for grades 5-8 and Earth Science in the Community
for high school. He recently has been asked to join the
Advisory Board for a third new earth science text being
considered by the AGI.
Why I Accepted the Invitation to be a Candidate for AAPG Office
By Donald W. Lewis
Throughout my career, the
AAPG has been an essential part of my professional life. In the
early years, the BULLETIN was my main connection with AAPG and a
constant source of new ideas and techniques. When I was able to
attend a convention, I always returned to work with renewed enthusiasm,
both for the profession of geology and to apply things I had learned
or seen.
In the last several years,
as my AAPG activity increased, I have seen and admired the amount
of effort that many very active members give to AAPG. These activities
benefit all of our members, from an ever-increasing BULLETIN quality,
active continuing education program and mid-career education centers,
an increasing number of student chapters, an active K-12 program
and a visible government affairs program, to a rejuvenated Visiting
Geologists Program and many, many other things.
It is with this view, that
it is Active members who have made the association the premier organization
that it is, that I consider it an honor to be asked to be an officer.
I am eager to contribute what I can to help the association continue
to move ahead.
One area of increasing opportunity
in the AAPG is the evolving inclusion of non-American members in
the governance of the association. I truly believe that this is
the way forward for the association and will be very beneficial
over the coming years. Having lived overseas for five years and
having spent half my career in international exploration, I fully
support this wholesome movement and hope that I will be able to
assist it.
Another area of special
interest to me is K-12 earth science education, having participated
both in AAPG K-12 activities and as an Advisory Committee member
for two new earth science curricula currently being published by
the American Geological Institute.
Improving our K-12 earth
science education is, to me, the absolute best way to ensure not
only the continuation of our profession but to make a whole new
generation more aware of our science and how it can make their decision-making
processes better throughout their lives. There is a long way to
go, however, and a lot of room for increased activity within AAPG.
There are many other things
that can be done to keep AAPG moving forward. As a candidate, I
welcome the challenge to assist in this opportunity to represent
and assist the membership in as many ways as possible.