A world-class conference was set in one of the world’s great cities this fall as AAPG for the first time held its annual International Conference and Exhibition (ICE) in Istanbul, Turkey.
About 1,400 participants attended and enthusiastically applauded the meeting’s technical program, which centered on the theme “The Spirit Between Continents: Energy Geoscience in a Changing World.”
The meeting started with a standing-room-only plenary session that addressed “Technical Innovation and Collaboration – Keys to Affordable Energy,” moderated by Adif Zulkifli and AAPG Honorary member Pinar Yilmaz.
Other highlights of the technical program included special memorial sessions that honored the work and legacy of acclaimed geoscientists Peter Ziegler (regional tectonics) and Dave Roberts (exploration in frontier areas).
Adding to the excitement surrounding the Istanbul technical program – a theme that attracted a record-breaking 820 abstracts – was the 11th installment of the Discovery Thinking Forum, an initiative of the AAPG 100th Anniversary Committee that recognizes “100 Who Made a Difference” in exploration.
The conference got off to an exciting start with an opening session led by ICE general chair Volkan S. Ediger and featuring remarks from AAPG President Randi Martinsen, who said the gathering offered “the latest and best of cutting edge geoscience, technology and business opportunities, all under one impressive roof.”
Martinsen also spoke of AAPG’s continued globalization, citing data and demographics that add up to non-U.S. members now comprising more than 40 percent of AAPG’s total membership.
“But you don’t need to know all of the statistics to support the reality of AAPG’s global outreach – all you need to do is look around this room, and around this conference over the next three days,” Martinsen said. “Look at the diversity that we now represent, both demographically and in terms of our disciplines.
“And that’s a big reason why I’m proud to be here, as AAPG president, participating in a meeting that is yet one more step in our efforts to continue making our place in the world – and, importantly, to have the world continue to be a growing influence in the story of AAPG,” she said.
“We know if we find and promote the best science that ‘people’ will come to AAPG,” she said. “And they, in turn, bring to the Association new knowledge, new perspective, new energy, new results, all of which keep AAPG an indispensible part of a geoscientist’s career.”
AAPG’s next ICE will be held Sept. 13-16, in Melbourne, Australia.