Divisions
Division of Professional Affairs
The following is a summary of the DPA, who we are and our major proposed goals for the fiscal year 2010-2011. The DPA currently has over 3,000 members. It is the oldest and largest of AAPG’s divisions. The DPA has a number of activities at the various section and region meetings of AAPG. For specific information on these activities, please refer to the DPA section of the AAPG website.
Mission & Vision - Who is the DPA?
The Division of Professional Affairs (DPA) is the community within AAPG that focuses on the professional practice of energy resource geoscience, upholds the AAPG Code of Ethics, provides continuing education and certifies the credentials of geoscientists. As such, the DPA forms the ‘inner core’ of AAPG that makes it a professional society and not just a scientific society. The Division is proud to form that ‘core’, and invites all AAPG members to join.
The DPA community consists of geoscientists who are committed to standards of competence, to ethical behavior and professionalism – these commitments are further expressed through certification. The community comes together to improve members’ knowledge of issues affecting the practice of our profession. The DPA comes together to guide all AAPG members and to improve their knowledge and professional practice as well.
Main Goals for DPA
- Goal 1: An Expanded International Presence – Ethics and Professionalism cross all international borders. AAPG membership anywhere in the world should comply and adhere to the Code of Ethics, strive to improve overall standards of professional competence, and expand business networking. The DPA plans to expand its membership to all six Global Regions of the AAPG.
- Goal 2: Overall Membership – Every qualifying AAPG member should be a member of DPA! With DPA’s two levels of certification, and in particular, the Board Certified designation that includes the requirement for continuing education, both levels of certification represent the “Gold Standard” in the professional practice as a geoscientist in the petroleum industry. The DPA will be participating in several membership campaigns throughout the year.
- Goal 3: US Government Affairs – The DPA serves our members (and the geoscience community overall), through the Governmental Affairs Committee and the GEO-DC office. Washington – and all legislatures and parliaments – need to hear from knowledgeable professionals. In the United States, the DPA takes the lead for AAPG, which is the only geoscience organization that can speak for energy resource geoscientists.