As I begin my term as president of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, I find myself reflecting on the discoveries, people, and ideas that shaped our profession. The history of petroleum geology is often told through famous wells and great fields, but the deeper story is one of curiosity, imagination, and courage of geologists.
Petroleum geologist Wallace Pratt famously observed that “oil is first found in the mind.” Those words might be even more relevant today than when he first spoke them. The hydrocarbons were always present beneath the surface. What was missing was the insight to recognize them. Every major discovery in our industry begins with a geologist willing to see something others overlooked.
That truth extends far beyond exploration. It applies equally to the future of AAPG.
As we look ahead, our greatest opportunities will not come solely from new technologies, new plays, or new datasets. They will come from developing people. The future of our Association will be determined by how effectively we engage our members, develop students and young professionals, and retain the talent and experience that make our community and culture unique. Our responsibility is to create an environment where ideas can emerge.
Beware the Ignorance of Experts
Throughout my career, I have been reminded that progress often comes from questioning assumptions. Physicist Richard Feynman frequently spoke about the dangers of certainty and what he described as the “ignorance of experts.” His point was not that expertise lacks value. Quite the opposite. Expertise is essential. But true innovation occurs when experts remain willing to admit what they do not know.
Conventional reservoirs gave way to unconventional reservoirs. Source rocks became reservoirs. Horizontal drilling transformed resource plays. Entire basins once considered mature revealed new opportunities through new perspectives and new technologies.
Exploration advances when curiosity outruns certainty.
AAPG should continue to be a community where questions are encouraged, ideas are debated respectfully, and technical innovation is celebrated. The greatest threat to discovery has never been lack of data. It has often been the assumption that we already know the answer.
Every member has something valuable to contribute. Some contribute technical expertise. Some contribute leadership. Some contribute mentorship. Others contribute enthusiasm and fresh perspectives. Together, these contributions create a stronger profession and a stronger Association.
This is where I am reminded of the words of Theodore Roosevelt in his famous “Man in the Arena” speech. Roosevelt wrote that the credit belongs not to the critic, but to the person who is actually in the arena – whose face is marred by dust and sweat, who strives valiantly, who fails at times, but who continues moving forward.
Exploration has always been an arena activity. Every prospect carries uncertainty. Every interpretation carries risk. Every discovery requires someone willing to commit to an idea when success is not guaranteed.
The same is true of leadership and volunteer service.
The future of AAPG will continue to be built by members who volunteer, mentor, teach, organize conferences, support local societies, lead divisions, engage students, and help strengthen our community. It will be built by individuals willing to step into the arena and contribute their time, talent, and passion.
As president, one of my priorities will be strengthening those opportunities for engagement. I want members to feel connected not only to AAPG, but also to each other. I want students and young professionals to see clear pathways for involvement and leadership. I want our sections and regions, affiliated societies, and divisions to work together to deliver value throughout every stage of a geoscientist’s career.
The Hero in the Story of Human Progress
At the same time, we should never lose sight of the broader purpose of our profession.
Petroleum remains fundamental to modern prosperity. Reliable and affordable energy supports transportation, agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, communications, and countless products that improve quality of life around the world. While technologies evolve and energy systems continue to diversify, society still depends upon the work of geoscientists who understand the subsurface and help provide the resources that power modern civilization.
The story of petroleum is ultimately a story of human progress.
From Spindletop to Santa Rita, and across all the onshore and offshore basins, major discoveries around the world, from conventional reservoirs to unconventional resource plays, our profession has consistently demonstrated the power of innovation, perseverance, and scientific inquiry. Those same qualities will be required to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future.
The future of AAPG is bright because our future is built upon people – people willing to ask questions, challenge assumptions, mentor others, and pursue discovery.
Our task is to cultivate the minds that will make the discoveries of tomorrow.
Problem, or Opportunity?
One of the privileges of serving on the Executive Committee this past year has been gaining a deeper appreciation for the people who work every day to support our members and advance the mission of AAPG.
The past year has not been without challenges. Our Executive Director Tom Wilker and the AAPG staff have worked through a period of significant transition while continuing to serve our members with professionalism and dedication. Like any organization navigating change, there have been difficult decisions, competing priorities, and new opportunities to pursue.
What I have seen firsthand is a staff committed to moving AAPG forward and an Executive Committee committed to supporting them in that effort.
Success is never the result of one individual. It comes from alignment, teamwork, and a shared vision. I am encouraged by the collaboration I have seen among our Executive Committee members. While we might occasionally approach challenges from different perspectives, we are united in our commitment to the future of AAPG and the members we serve.
We are aligned around a simple objective: ensuring that AAPG remains relevant, valuable, and impactful for the next generation of geoscientists.
It is no secret that membership numbers have declined. However, this is not a challenge unique to AAPG. Professional societies across numerous industries are facing similar trends as technology changes how people access information, build networks, and engage with professional communities.
Rather than viewing this as a problem to fear, I see it as an opportunity to refocus on what matters most.
Organizations do not grow because they ask people to join. Organizations grow because they provide value.
Our members are among the most talented, innovative, and dedicated geoscientists in the world. Every day they are solving problems, making discoveries, developing resources, mentoring young professionals, conducting research, teaching students, and contributing to their local communities. Whether they work in Houston, Harare, Calgary, Buenos Aires, Jakarta, Midland, or Muscat, they represent the very best of our profession.
If we help our members succeed, they will become our greatest ambassadors. If we strengthen our local societies, sections, divisions, and student chapters, participation will increase naturally. When geoscientists feel connected, they remain engaged. When AAPG helps people advance their careers, expand their networks, and contribute to the profession, retention follows.
If we do that well, new members will come.
I did not grow up in the petroleum industry. In fact, I barely knew it existed as a career path. Like many students, I found my way into the industry through the encouragement of mentors who took the time to invest in me and showed me the opportunities this profession offers.
Over the past 20 years, much of my career has been spent with a small company, and now some as an independent. Through every stage of that journey, I have relied on AAPG for technical knowledge, professional relationships, leadership opportunities, and a network of colleagues and friends around the world. That experience shapes my view of AAPG today. There are students who have never considered a career in our industry and young professionals looking for connection and guidance. Our responsibility is to help them discover the same opportunities that so many of us were fortunate to receive.
What We Are Doing Today
While it is important to discuss the future, it is equally important to recognize the work already under way.
This past year, now past President Brian Horn did an amazing job promoting the Imperial Barrel Award (editor’s note: see related article by Emily Smith Llinas in this issue). I’m looking forward to seeing the effort wrap up at IMAGE this year. And Brian has also done all he can to boost student chapters and engagement.
One of the most encouraging developments I have seen is the growing collaboration between our sections and divisions. Historically, some of AAPG’s greatest successes occurred when technical expertise, local leadership, and member engagement worked together. Our divisions possess tremendous technical depth and specialized knowledge. Our sections/regions and affiliated societies provide the local connections and personal relationships that keep members engaged throughout their careers. Bringing these groups closer together creates opportunities that benefit everyone.
Over the next year, I want to continue encouraging greater coordination between division leadership and section/regional leadership. We are looking for ways to support sectional meetings with technical content, speakers, training opportunities, and increased participation. Several divisions have already stepped forward to help support sectional conferences, and I believe this is only the beginning. I plan on working with AAPG Vice President of Regions Maria Mutti and Vice President of Sections Julie Bloxson to get the sections and regions back to operating with the highest standards and enthusiasm.
In many ways, we are also rebuilding some of the habits and systems that historically made AAPG such a vibrant professional community. The disruptions of a downturn and then COVID changed how many organizations operate. Today, we have an opportunity to restore those strengths.
Professional relationships matter. Mentorship matters. Face-to-face conversations matter. Field trips matter. Technical sessions matter. The exchange of ideas between generations matters. These are not outdated traditions. They remain among the most valuable experiences our profession offers.
That is why I encourage members to attend conferences whenever possible.
Our annual conference, the International Meeting for Applied Geoscience and Energy, continues to be one of the premier geoscience gatherings in the world. Every year it brings together exceptional technical content, innovative technologies, industry leaders, students, and professionals from across the globe. IMAGE showcases the best of our profession and provides opportunities to learn, collaborate, and build relationships that can last an entire career.
I encourage every member who can attend IMAGE to do so (editor’s note: visit ImageEvent.org to register, if you haven’t already).
At the same time, I encourage members not to overlook the value of our sectional meetings.
For many geoscientists, sectional conferences provide the most accessible opportunities for engagement. They offer excellent technical programs, meaningful networking opportunities, and a chance to connect with colleagues facing similar geological and operational challenges within their region. They are often where future leaders first become involved and where students and young professionals establish the professional relationships that shape their careers.
I would also encourage our regions members to consider attending sectional conferences when opportunities arise and vice versa. While IMAGE serves as our global gathering place, sectional/regional meetings provide a unique opportunity to experience the local energy communities that make up the broader AAPG family. They offer a more personal setting for building relationships and sharing technical knowledge while exposing attendees to the diversity of geological challenges and opportunities across different regions.
AAPG’s future will not be built solely in boardrooms or committee meetings. It will be built in conference halls, classrooms, field trips, technical sessions, local society meetings, and countless conversations between members who share a passion for understanding our planet.