DPA in the 21st Century: Honoring Our Past, Adapting to the Future
I have been in the geosciences for the first quarter of this century and I’ve seen many major changes in the way we practice geology. Technological breakthroughs in subsurface data gathering have become industry standards. Data processing capabilities that used to require specialist contractors now can be completed on our desktops. Unconventional plays are commonplace now and are being explored worldwide.
Please log in to read the full article
I have been in the geosciences for the first quarter of this century and I’ve seen many major changes in the way we practice geology. Technological breakthroughs in subsurface data gathering have become industry standards. Data processing capabilities that used to require specialist contractors now can be completed on our desktops. Unconventional plays are commonplace now and are being explored worldwide.
Through all of those changes, geologists and geophysicists have provided the spark of ingenuity, the expertise and the instincts to turn new technology into new opportunities.
For nearly 60 years, AAPG’s Division of Professional Affairs has been a proud part of our tradition of professional excellence, offering forums on new plays, continuing education credits for maintaining accreditation, and opportunities to continue to develop professional and business-related skills. During the first five decades of our existence, becoming a member of DPA was seen as a major milestone for many – an acknowledgement by your peers that you had reached a high level of professional excellence. Now, with the large-scale reduction of experienced geologists in the industry over the last 10 years, there are entire regions and sections with few members who are aware of the Division or its mission.
The DPA Executive Committee has been focused on rebuilding and re-engaging our membership for three years now, and those efforts will continue in my term. In addition to the existing efforts to improve outreach to the sections, I want to increase our focus on engaging with our international membership by working with our regions to find areas where we can increase the value of membership, identify and reduce barriers to joining DPA and ensure a strong stream of relevant programming to provide the knowledge to remain at the forefront of the energy industry.
I firmly believe that the knowledge and creativity of our members are our greatest strengths. I am always open to new ideas for ways that we can continue to serve DPA and AAPG members better. If you have any ideas for topics, programs, or collaborations with other organizations, please reach out to me at [email protected].