Annual Report 2007: FY July 1, 2006-June 30, 2007
Visiting Geoscientist Program Committee
The function of the Committee on the Visiting Geoscientist Program (VGP) is to give university students and faculty worldwide with a balanced view of geosciences in the petroleum, energy minerals, and environmental industries; provide information about careers in the geosciences; project a positive image of a geoscience professional; and encourage geoscience career options for young scientists of high caliber. These goals are achieved through direct student contact during college and university visits by active professional geoscientists.
The Visiting Geoscientist Program introduces students to career paths and shows them how to prepare for their future in geology and geophysics. It also demonstrates professional attributes and the advantages of active participation in AAPG. Interaction with faculty and administrators also provides guidance regarding courses and field experiences needed by students to land jobs and become effective geoscientists.
Over the past year, the VGP moved forward in areas of:
- Recognition of Visiting Geoscientists: Ribbons were distributed for display on name tags, and performance awards were discussed with the AAPG Executive Committee. Other forms of recognition also are being considered.
- Visiting Geoscientist Tours: The first international VG tour was very successfully conducted with AAPG support for travel costs. Other tours are being considered for both domestic and international areas.
- Communication: A VGP Committee area is now active, including a library of materials and a discussion board.
- Presentation Materials: A set of annotated slides on “Geoscience Careers” is posted on the Web site for campus presentations.
- Publicity: An attractive new brochure on the VGP was prepared and is now being distributed to universities around the world, and the AAPG Explorer ran an article on the VGP.
- Liaison: Connecting universities with Visiting Geoscientist volunteers remains a significant challenge, highlighted by the uneven distribution of VGP visits from year to year. The VGP Committee launched an initiative to nominate a VG liaison for each AAPG domestic section and international region to assist in connecting VG lecturers with geoscience departments in their area.
- VG Visits: Almost evenly divided between campuses in the United States and those in international areas, there are significant differences in VG Visits coverage among the various AAPG sections and international regions. The VGP Committee is working to establish more balance so that major earth science departments throughout the world receive visits. Particular emphasis is placed on universities with (or working to start) AAPG Student Chapters.
The Visiting Geoscientist Program plays an important role in guiding students into earth science careers and introducing them to active participation in AAPG. The Visiting Geoscientist Committee considers coordination with other AAPG programs (e.g., Student Chapters, Grants-in-Aid, Student Expo, Publications Pipeline) essential to success in this mission. Major challenges for the VGP are (1) effective liaison with these diverse groups and (2) linking Visiting Geoscientist volunteers with universities that need/want them.
Chuck Caughey, Chair
Committee members: Adebayo Oladele Akinpelu, Charles A. Caughey (chair), Rebecca Dodge, Patrick John F. Gratton, Richard G. Green, John Richard Hogg, John Kaldi, Peter Mark Lloyd, Roger M Slatt, and Stephen M. Testa.