We live in a world where communication has never been easier. We can reach someone halfway around the world in seconds, attend meetings without leaving our homes, and connect with thousands of people through social media. Yet I wonder if we’re losing some of the personal connections between generations that once came so naturally.
That’s worth thinking about, particularly within our profession.
Mentorship is hardly a new concept. Consider Socrates and Plato. Socrates left no written works of his own, yet much of what we know about his philosophy survives through the writings of his student, Plato. Their relationship helped preserve ideas that have influenced Western thought for more than 2,000 years.
It’s a reminder that knowledge moves through people, not simply through books or formal instruction, but through conversations, questions, and the exchange of ideas.
Some of our most valuable knowledge isn’t written down. It lives in the people around us. Petroleum geology is certainly no exception.
Throughout my career, I’ve never officially participated in a mentorship program. Yet when I reflect on the people who have influenced my professional life, I realize I’ve received an extraordinary amount of mentorship.
Through my involvement with the South Texas Geological Society, the Gulf Coast Section, and especially AAPG, I’ve been surrounded by people willing to share their knowledge, experience, advice, and encouragement.
Some have helped me better understand geology. Others have offered career advice, introduced opportunities, challenged my thinking, or simply shared lessons learned over decades in the industry.
Many probably never considered themselves mentors. They were simply fellow geologists willing to share what they knew.
We have excellent formal mentorship programs throughout our industry, and they serve an important purpose. But mentorship doesn’t require an application, an assignment, or an official program.
Sometimes it happens over lunch at a geological society meeting, during a field trip, or through a conversation after a technical presentation.
Sometimes it begins with nothing more than a question.
Knowledge Has No Age Requirement
We often think of mentorship as an experienced professional passing knowledge to someone younger. That’s important, but I believe we’re overlooking half the opportunity.
I enjoy visiting with students and young professionals, sharing experiences and perhaps offering advice. But I frequently walk away having learned nearly as much as I’ve shared.
And I’m not talking about someone showing me how to use the latest social media platform. I’m talking about geology. Real science. New research and different ways of looking at problems.
Just last week, I stopped at a student’s poster presentation discussing smectites and lithium. The subject isn’t exactly my wheelhouse, but the young woman did an outstanding job explaining her research and answering my questions. I listened and learned quite a bit.
She was probably 20 years younger than me, but that difference meant absolutely nothing. For those few minutes, she was the expert, and I was the student.
That’s mentorship, too.
We should never assume that experience, age, or professional standing determines who has something valuable to teach. Some of the most exciting ideas in our profession come from people who haven’t yet had the opportunity to build lengthy résumés.
We would be foolish not to listen.
The Knowledge We Cannot Afford to Lose
There’s another reason these connections matter.
Many geologists who spent decades exploring basins, drilling wildcats, interpreting logs, and developing fields are retiring. They carry an extraordinary amount of knowledge, much of which has never been published.
Think about the geological interpretations, unsuccessful wells, field observations, and lessons learned through decades of exploration. Some of that knowledge exists only in their memories. Once it’s gone, we don’t get it back.
Meanwhile, younger geologists are bringing new technologies, analytical methods, and scientific perspectives into our profession.
Mentorship connects those two worlds. It’s not simply about preserving the past. It’s about combining experience with curiosity and innovation, ensuring that knowledge continues moving in both directions.
Challenge Yourself to Participate
I recognize that putting yourself out there comes more naturally to some people than others. Attending a luncheon where you don’t know anyone, introducing yourself to strangers, or walking into a room full of unfamiliar faces can be genuinely uncomfortable.
We hear a lot these days about being an introvert or an extrovert. I understand and respect those differences. But we should be careful not to let the labels we give ourselves become limitations we place upon ourselves.
I’ve been involved in many organizations and taken on responsibilities throughout my career, but that doesn’t mean I’ve always been comfortable doing so.
I’ve challenged myself professionally, whether pursuing an unfamiliar geological idea, accepting new responsibilities, or stepping into leadership positions.
Growth doesn’t always happen when we’re comfortable. Often, it happens precisely because we’re not.
Recently, I heard a story from my friend Scott Pollard about someone who approached difficult tasks by convincing himself that he enjoyed doing them. I found that idea interesting.
Sometimes you have to act like you enjoy doing the hard things until you discover that you actually do. Maybe.
Maybe attending your first geological society luncheon feels awkward. Maybe introducing yourself to strangers isn’t something you particularly enjoy. Maybe volunteering for a committee sounds like another responsibility you’re not ready to accept.
Do it anyway. Give yourself a chance. You might discover that you enjoy it. More importantly, you might discover opportunities, friendships, and professional relationships you never would have encountered otherwise.
And there’s a practical reason I feel strongly about this.
The petroleum industry is a difficult place to navigate alone.
Commodity-price volatility, mergers, acquisitions, layoffs, and shifting opportunities can challenge even the most talented and experienced geologists.
The people you meet today might become your colleagues, business partners, mentors, employers, or simply friends who help you through difficult times.
Those relationships don’t develop overnight, and they rarely develop when we isolate ourselves from our professional community.
I’m not suggesting everyone needs to become an extrovert. I’m suggesting that everyone, regardless of personality, should challenge themselves to participate.
You don’t have to be comfortable to get started. Sometimes getting started is how you become comfortable.
Don’t Wait to Be Asked
We spend considerable time discussing how to attract students and young professionals, strengthen membership, and encourage participation in our geological societies.
Those are important objectives. But perhaps we should spend a little more time simply talking to one another.
A student attending a conference for the first time might be surrounded by hundreds of experienced geologists yet feel completely disconnected from them. Meanwhile, an experienced geologist might be sitting only a few feet away from someone conducting fascinating research without realizing the opportunity to learn something new.
All it takes to change either situation is a conversation.
Call a geologist you haven’t spoken with in years. Invite a student to lunch. Introduce yourself to someone at your next geological society meeting. Stop at a poster presentation and ask a few questions.
And if you’re a student or young professional, don’t hesitate to approach someone whose career or research interests you. Most experienced geologists I know genuinely enjoy sharing what they’ve learned. Some conversations last only minutes. Others become friendships that last a lifetime.
Looking back on my own career, I recognize how much mentorship I’ve received without ever formally requesting it. I hope I’ve returned some of that generosity along the way.
That’s one of the greatest benefits of belonging to AAPG, and one we don’t talk about nearly enough.
The Strength of AAPG Is Its Members
There’s something particularly special about AAPG that I believe we sometimes take for granted. We are a member-driven organization. Our strength comes from the collective knowledge, enthusiasm, and willingness of our members to contribute.
That distinction matters.
When our members become disengaged, AAPG struggles. But when we volunteer, attend meetings, share knowledge, and reach out to one another, there is virtually no limit to what AAPG can accomplish.
That’s what makes our Association unique. Its future isn’t determined solely by decisions made in an office or boardroom. It’s shaped every day by geologists who choose to participate, share experiences, mentor others, and invest a little of themselves in our professional community.
We don’t have to wait for someone else to strengthen AAPG. We are AAPG.
And perhaps that’s the most important lesson of mentorship and professional involvement. The relationships we build don’t simply benefit us individually; they strengthen the entire Association and help ensure that the knowledge, opportunities, and friendships we’ve enjoyed remain available to those who follow.
AAPG can provide the opportunity to connect, but it’s up to us to make the connection.
And there’s no reason to wait.