Barcelona Stands Tall on Fall Slate

Events include:

• The Foundation Trustee Associates' meeting in Whistler, British Columbia, Sept. 3-6.
• The Eastern Section meeting in Pittsburgh on Sept. 6-11.
• The third annual APPEX meeting in Houston, Sept. 9-11 (see story).
• The annual AAPG International Conference and Exhibition in Barcelona, Sept. 21-24 (see story).

In Whistler, the Trustee Associates for the first time will hold their annual meeting in Canada. There are a number of new ideas for Foundation projects, and we encourage all Trustee Associates to attend, enjoy the company and learn more about plans for the Foundation's future.

If you are a Trustee Associate and interested in attending the meeting, call Diane Keim at (918) 560-2674. If you are interested in joining the Foundation Trustee Associates program, call me at (918) 560-2639, or call Diane at the above number.

The AAPG Eastern Section event is a joint meeting with the SPE Northeastern North American Region. The technical program is a great mix of engineering, geology and geophysics.

Also, the Eastern Section is holding a student job program before the meeting on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 6 and 7. The program is designed to attract students from numerous disciplines and help companies meet potential employees.

As I mentioned in my last column, AAPG, SIPES and the Houston Geological Society plan to expand and improve APPEX once again.

APPEX is unique in that it is an exposition designed by geologists and geophysicists. As a result, it is truly a geological and geophysical prospect exposition, where attendees can meet a good concentration of prospectors.

We are receiving a tremendous response from last year's exhibitors, as well as first time exhibitors, so now is the time to order a booth and register for this important meeting of explorationists in Houston on Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 10-11.

In addition, a conference about the Perspectives on the Upstream Business of Oil and Gas, hosted by IHS Energy, will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 9. Attend both the conference and expo and receive a substantial discount on the total registration fee (see story).

Barcelona 2003 will be held Sept. 21-24 with our host the Institut Cartografic de Catalunya (DPTOP).

The theme for Barcelona, "Crossroads of Geology, Energy and Cultures," fits this meeting perfectly. Barcelona is one of the world's most beautiful and exciting cities, and is a great venue for a meeting. The Barcelona Organizing Committee has done a great job in building an outstanding international program that, literally, has something for everyone.

The Technical Program Committee has designed oral and poster programs on four sub-themes: Regional Geology (special emphasis on the Atlantic Margin and Circum-Mediterranean); Business and Energy Transport, with executive forums and a special session on the role of smaller independents in international exploration; a diverse program on Science and Technology; and field-based Geological Models, emphasizing Spain and Circum-Mediterranean outstanding geological outcrops.

The field trip opportunities are, of course, fantastic. Spain, especially, is featured, and the trips cover most disciplines, including carbonate stratigraphy and paleokarst, turbidites, structure and salt tectonics, and source rocks. (And this year we have spouse or guest field trips that coincide and meet with several of the geology field trips.)

Now is the time to register for Barcelona. Pre-registration is open until Aug. 15, and you can always register onsite. There are still good values on plane tickets, so, please come and join us. (see story)

Finally, don't forget the Mid-Continent Section meeting in Tulsa, Oct. 12-14, and the Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Section meeting in Baton Rouge, La., Oct. 22-24.

AAPG, our Sections and host societies have something for everyone this fall. Don't miss these opportunities for professional development and networking.

(Remember, you can find more information and register for AAPG-managed meetings by going to www.aapg.org.)