Welcoming the New AAPGWN Officers

The AAPG Women’s Network (formerly PROWESS) is excited to kick off the new AAPG fiscal year with a new leadership team and some new initiatives. We sincerely thank Terra George of EOG Resources and Amanda Haddad of BHP for their service and dedication to the AAPGWN over the last few years. The impact of their efforts and contributions to increasing the visibility of the AAPGWN to the greater AAPG and geoscience communities has been immeasurable. Terra and Amanda will transition to the role of past chairs and continue to serve the AAPGWN and greater AAPG community. Nicole Wagoner (consultant) and Rachelle Kernen of the Australian School of Petroleum and Natural Resources have stepped in as the new co-chairs, along with Chioma Onwumelu of the University of North Dakota serving as secretary, Andrea López Vega of Total as treasurer liaison, and Amanda Pascali (recent geology graduate) as publicity director. We would also like to thank Lee Avary (consultant) and Stephanie Nwoko of Premier Oilfield Group for their continuing service to the AAPGWN. The new leadership team is looking forward to serving the AAPGWN and working with the new Executive Committee and AAPG to promote the advancement of women in geosciences and lessening the challenges that women face in the workplace, particularly in the sciences.

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The AAPG Women’s Network (formerly PROWESS) is excited to kick off the new AAPG fiscal year with a new leadership team and some new initiatives. We sincerely thank Terra George of EOG Resources and Amanda Haddad of BHP for their service and dedication to the AAPGWN over the last few years. The impact of their efforts and contributions to increasing the visibility of the AAPGWN to the greater AAPG and geoscience communities has been immeasurable. Terra and Amanda will transition to the role of past chairs and continue to serve the AAPGWN and greater AAPG community. Nicole Wagoner (consultant) and Rachelle Kernen of the Australian School of Petroleum and Natural Resources have stepped in as the new co-chairs, along with Chioma Onwumelu of the University of North Dakota serving as secretary, Andrea López Vega of Total as treasurer liaison, and Amanda Pascali (recent geology graduate) as publicity director. We would also like to thank Lee Avary (consultant) and Stephanie Nwoko of Premier Oilfield Group for their continuing service to the AAPGWN. The new leadership team is looking forward to serving the AAPGWN and working with the new Executive Committee and AAPG to promote the advancement of women in geosciences and lessening the challenges that women face in the workplace, particularly in the sciences.

New Initiatives

The AAPGWN is currently working hard to roll out new initiatives, events, and partnerships. The goal of these programs is to expand our community of geoscientists, provide career development resources to women and increase knowledge sharing among our global members. In the coming months we will be kicking off the following initiatives:

  • Introducing a pilot of our formal mentoring program, which we plan to expand in 2021
  • Co-hosting a technical webinar focused on petroleum geochemistry given by Faye Liu of RevoChem, followed by a Zoom Happy Hour with the Association for Women Geoscientist
  • Publishing articles in the AAPG EXPLORER
  • Developing partnerships and co-hosting webinars and panel discussions with other organizations including PinkPetro, Geolatinas, National Association of Black Geoscientists, AWG, Society of Petroleum Engineers Women in Energy, American Geosciences Institute, Men Advocating Real Change and the STEMulating Diversity SIG
  • Working toward making the AAPGWN a formal division within the AAPG
  • Seeking additional funding opportunities to support our new initiatives
  • Advocating for a museum display featuring the Pioneering Women banner
  • Collecting historical and current data and statistics to be integrated into a publication discussing the state of women in geosciences, strides made toward gender equality and improvements to further narrow the gender gap

The AAPGWN is currently seeking enthusiastic individuals to help with these new initiatives as well as our ongoing events and initiatives including technical short courses, ACE/ICE events and awards and nominations. Please email us at [email protected] for more information or if you are interested in taking the lead or helping with any of these initiatives.

‘Open Letter’

We would like to send a special thank you and recognition to Terra George for posting her “Open Letter to AAPG” last month on LinkedIn, as this was the catalyst for change and momentum within the AAPGWN. Terra’s passion and tact was especially effective for engaging the AAPG Executive Committee and we applaud her for her efforts. Additionally, we thank Rachelle Kernen and the greater AWG organization for releasing a statement of support to Terra and the greater AAPGWN community. In this time of change and social unrest, it is especially important that we stand united as a cohesive unit and work together to ensure the future success of the AAPG and greater geoscience community. Thank you to everyone for standing by our side!

Please follow us on social media for more information about our future initiatives! We currently have a Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram (@geosteminist), and Twitter. For more information about AAPGWN or to join, please visit us at AAPG.org/womens-network.

Comments (2)

We can support each other for a more successful organization
The AAPG has effectively been an international organization for geoscientists since its inception. The first issue of the AAPG Bulletin included a paper about geology outside the USA. It has taken a while for women to join the organization in visible numbers, but involvement of women should be a strategic priority: The business literature demonstrates that including women makes organizations stronger (e.g., https://hbr.org/2019/02/research-when-gender-diversity-makes-firms-more-productive). So, to strengthen our industry and its financial performance, AAPG wisely supports the Women’s Network, knowing that part of the support from AAPG should be forums in which women can network with role models (both men and women) to develop their talent and fulfill their potential. If members feel neglected or have a particular interest they wish to pursue with other like-minded members, they are welcome to propose a Technical Interest Group or a Special Interest Group. Volunteering is a great way to get to know other AAPG members and support our society!
8/15/2020 2:14:59 PM
Can we just be known as AMERICAN Petroleum Geologist
If you want us to "stand together" for a better stronger AAPG then quit dividing us into women, black , brown, student, blah, blah ,blah. Just be known as an American Petroleum Geologist! Geez. Either that or I want the White Male Network. I'm tired of all this division in AAPG
7/22/2020 5:47:35 AM

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