Executive Comments

Happy Times Hit Geophysics. And aside from being a tad too busy, I'm sure that most of us are enjoying the excitement of a burgeoning industry and blossoming science. Our CSEG organization is also growing with the blooming (booming) of interest in exploration geophysics. We want to continue making the CSEG a Dynamic and useful Society. A major part of this effort is communication amongst the membership. Thus this new "Recorder" column, where the various executive members will relate their ideas for the Society as well as what they're up to.

My goal as President has been to try to enhance the CSEG's communication with its membership as well as increase our continuing education efforts. We have numerous new people and technology entering the industry. Thus the need for talks, courses, and workshops. Our first forum, in hopefully a long series, was the High-resolution Aeromagnetics Forum organized by John Peirce and Ted Glenn. This was a wonderful overview of a rapidly developing method and important exploration technique. Great work guys. We are also planning a two week, intensive course in 3-D Seismic Exploration, June 1-13, 1998. This course will be jointly sponsored by the CSEG and U of C and will cover the 3-D method from survey design to computer interpretation.

We've been curious as to who forms our membership and how the Society can better serve them. To this end we are conducting a membership survey. It will provide information on questions including what sectors comprise the membership, individuals experience levels, and what members would like the Society to deliver. The results should be out early in the new year. We do know that the membership has been increasing, but slowly, for the last several years. We envision a more active Society with a strongly growing membership. We have struck a committee to look at ways of increasing our membership.

For example, we would like to see young geophysicists reap benefits from participating in the CSEG. At the University of Calgary, we have seen the number of geophysics undergraduate majors mushroom from a low of 9 in 1992 to a current 38. In addition, graduate student enrollment has doubled in the last several years to 39 students. We wish them long and prosperous careers and hope that active membership in the CSEG will be a satisfying part of their professional lives.

Many people now use the Web as a primary source of information. So we formed an electronic communication committee, primarily to enhance our website. This group has been given a budget and is currently upgrading hardware, software, and information at the site.

Futhermore, as a result of healthy conventions and "Recorder" advertising in the last few years (and conscientious treasurers), the CSEG is in a positive financial position. Our goal is to use this position to fund worthy projects beneficial to the geophysical sector. Thus, the formation of the Superfund capably led by Susan Eaton. The Superfund has supported its first round of projects which includes the development of geophysics courses on the Web, a mining seismic text, and purchase of geophysical books for educational purposes.

A major event, in an advanced state of planning, will be arriving shortly: Geo-Triad '98 - our annual convention jointly presented with the petroleum geologists and well loggers. This event, at the U. of C. and co-chaired by Doug Uffen, will include a remarkable set of technical sessions, as well as a large outdoor geophysical fair. The convention committee intends to shoot a 3-D seismic program on campus and even drill a well.

Looking a little farther down the road, we've got some really exciting plans for the Year 2000. First, the SEG International Convention will be in Calgary in August, 2000. We're beginning to plan for that now. in addition, the CSEG will be joining with a number of our sister geo-organizations to hold a grand national celebration of the geosciences (May-June). The celebration is called Geo-Canada 2000. Let us know if you would like to be involved in either event.

There are many other activities that I would like to see us organize: a major science lecture for the public, sponsoring of a distinguished visiting geophysicist, . . . well, bring on next year's executive.

Cheers and best of the Season.