By J.B. (Jack) THOMAS
AAPG Geoscience Director

Manpower Concern Noted by E-Survey

An electronic survey by the Education Committee, taken to assess the strengths and weaknesses of AAPG courses, seminars and conferences, shows concern among members regarding the decline in trained, experienced geologists to replace those retiring from our business in the next 10-15 years.

We are utilizing the respondents' key points to help guide the future of AAPG training services.

Survey highlights included:

• Training opportunities that are one to three days long and presented at a convenient location (in-house, in town, in the field, etc.) are preferred over the one- to two-week courses.
• AAPG training is the best available -- but members take classes from many sources.
• Courses are taken to enhance work performance rather than as a "perk" for good performance.
• Courses that are two to three days long and offered in conjunction with meetings are most popular.
• On average, members took two courses/workshops in the past 24 months.
• Reservoir modeling-structure to simulation is the most advanced course wanted.
• Next to in-house training, AAPG provided most member training in the last two years (but only one in five took an AAPG course).
• Field trips or lectures are better than online learning but online learning is great because it is self-paced.
• AAPG courses offered "in-house" or at local meetings are good alternatives to those held with national, section or international meetings.

What's the influence of the survey results?

• Training Partner programs of selected courses are available to companies for in-house, in our headquarters or elsewhere.
• The second Winter Education Conference will be held in Houston in February, featuring up to 11 courses and seminars in a one-week, "you pick what you want," format.
• Some new field seminars will include combined classroom and field experiences.
• Selected engineering and geophysical seminars are being added to our curriculum.

You responded; we listened and are acting. Thank you for helping us all adapt to the changing needs in our professional society.