As I indicated in my candidate statement, AAPG is a business and our purpose is to provide material to our membership that will help them as professional geologists. As a business, we have to consider the purpose of the Association:
“The purposes of this Association are to advance the science of geology, especially as it relates to petroleum, natural gas, other subsurface fluids, and mineral resources; to promote the technology of exploring for, finding, and producing these materials in an economically and environmentally sound manner; to foster the spirit of scientific research throughout its membership; to disseminate information relating to the geology and the associated technology of petroleum, natural gas, other subsurface fluids, and mineral resources … ”
The AAPG editor is the de facto scientific leader of the AAPG and my task is to deliver publications that are significant to our membership and to manage the legacy publications. As a scientific leader, it is critical that the editor understands the science, has the ability to communicate the science while maintaining technical rigor, and find new ways to communicate the science as communication vehicles change. New technology offers new and faster ways to communicate the science. Scientific communication is a critical path to fostering the professional development needs of the membership. Managing legacy publications is finding new ways to make these products more useful for the membership.
I believe in proactively recruiting what the membership needs. I have heard many comments from the membership asking for coverage of field studies, significant discoveries, play and basin analysis and geoscience technology. In my experience – although many parameters are similar between fields (reservoir, source rock, etc.) – no two fields are exactly alike. I also intend to solicit manuscripts from successful meetings like the Super Basins Conference or successful oral sessions at the AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition, such as the Discovery Thinking forums, the recent salt tectonics session in San Antonio or regional and section AAPG meetings.
As we pursue our chosen profession exploring, developing and producing energy for society in an environmentally responsible and sustainable way, it is important to understand what is unique about an existing field or a new discovery (e.g. controls on reservoir development). This is where AAPG publications can make a difference for our membership.
Soliciting manuscripts is a difficult task that requires input from the membership, regions, and related societies around the world. AAPG is a global organization whose global presence continues to grow. Every member who contributes to our science through AAPG publication lifts up the entire membership. I ask that AAPG Sections, Regions and affiliated Societies assist in recruiting manuscripts for publication that are significant to their membership. Additionally, Associate Editors and Senior Associate Editors are critical to the AAPG publication pipeline to ensure technical rigor and clear communication, so I also ask the AAPG Sections, Regions and affiliated Societies assist recruiting individuals willing to serve the profession in these roles.