The International Meeting for Applied Geoscience and Energy – now in its third year since AAPG, along with the Society for Sedimentary Geology, joined forces with the Society of Exploration Geophysicists for a combined annual convention – continues to grow.
More than 7,300 people converged on the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston in late August/early September for IMAGE 2023.
Also, more than a thousand people packed into the Opening Session, in which American Geosciences Institute Executive Director Jonathan Arthur gave the keynote address on “The Future of Geoscience” and then led a panel discussion on the topic with AAPG President Claudia Hackbarth and SEG President Ken Tubman.
The extensive technical program included 278 sessions comprising more than 1,100 presentations which, along with several new features on the more-than-60,000-square-foot exhibition floor where 230 companies were represented, consistently drew large crowds all week. The theaters on Global Opportunities and anything on digitalization, carbon management and near-surface pavilions were particularly popular.
One of those new features was The Gathering Place – which had a relaxed, park-like atmosphere, replete with firepits and patio furniture, and included stands for the various societies’ DEI, early career and veteran groups, the Women’s Network and a member-produced and curated art show and an energy currency display.
And, of course, there was GeoRex the dinosaur, who drew attention and photo opportunities all week.