CLASSROOM EARTH
TU AIPG Chapter Celebrates National Fossil Day
Lauren Haygood, SA-9086, Annie Crawford, and Robert Scott
The University of Tulsa Student Chapter of AIPG (aka Geo Club) cel- ebrated National Fossil Day on October 17. We set up a display with a variety of fossils, including a juvenile mammoth tooth found in the Arkansas River in Oklahoma, in front of our Geoscience Department’s beautiful mineral dis- play.! Multiple students volunteered to wear an inflatable T-Rex costume, becoming a living fossil in the display. They really enjoyed dressing up as a living fossil to help bring awareness to
National Fossil Day! People seemed to get quite a kick out of waving back to an excited inflatable orange Tyrannosaurus Rex! It was great fun to talk to all the people who stopped by our table, whether they were new to fossils and wanted to know what all the fuss was about or veterans of the department who wanted to see what we had this year for our exhibit. Volunteers enjoyed sharing the fun of bringing fossils back to life with the many curious students who stopped by the department’s excellent display. Many of the students were thrilled that we could touch the actual specimens, something that is almost never allowed in museums or other similar venues. One of our Professor’s engineer friends came to hear about a talk on earthquakes and stopped by our table on his way. He was fasci- nated by the fossils and reminded of past days
are marketing their services, their proj- ects and/or their people. Often, students are recruited at these industry functions, as there is nothing better than a one-on- one conversation at a trade show booth for both the potential employer and the potential employee to assess each other. This recruiting may not be advertised and is often through word of mouth and simple introductions and “who you know.” An important part of any career in the geosciences is understanding ethical practices and joining AIPG can provide insights into this very impor- tant component of being a professional geologist.
Networking can lead to scholarships that greatly enhance a resume, particu- larly when the scholarship is competitive and is in the field and career path that you plan on entering. For instance, if one is interested in metallic mineral deposits and economic geology, apply- ing for scholarships and joining a stu- dent chapter of the Society of Economic Geologists (SEG) and/or the Society for
www.aipg.org
Mineral Exploration (SME), or even better, both, would be an appropriate networking action. Even if one doesn’t win the scholarship, by applying, a group of professionals will see your name and your goals and skills on your application. Consider volunteering to work booths, assist in envelop stuffing, or other prepa- ration efforts for conventions and trade shows in your field(s) of interest, includ- ing the AIPG annual meeting.
Don’t hesitate to talk with professors, or alumni, about opportunities. Don’t be afraid to be an intern or do “grunt” work early on to show you are willing to “pay your dues” and to do what it takes to get into the employed world. If you hear of a position but are not qualified or it’s not your cup of tea, don’t hesitate to pass it on to those whom you may know that might be interested. Passing on the opportunity may mean the favor will be returned one day. This is particularly important when there are downturns in the industry, whether it be oil and gas, metallic, industrial or energy minerals,
when he had found a fossil. Two favor- ites this year were the fossilized rugose coral and the fossiliferous limestone that contained a remnant of a trilobite and some brachiopods. Students were also amazed with us informing them they could find a variety of marine fossils in Oklahoma due to the ancient ocean that used to cover the State. It was a suc- cessful celebration, and a great way to inspire students to explore the environ- ment around them, especially because there are a variety of fossils to find in Oklahoma!
environmental sciences or other geologic fields. Those who know a large number of folks in their respective field have a much better chance of either staying employed or finding new employment quickly if the axe comes their way. I can personally attest from my more than thirty years in the mining industry that ALL of my jobs were the result of networking and word-of-mouth contacts. Through the years I also have passed on countless resumes of students and fellow geologists to prospective employers in my network, even though neither I nor my employer had positions open. Often, this has led to employment for those indi- viduals: conceivably, one of them could one day be MY boss because of this simple gesture. Despite the advancements and benefits of our electronic age - getting out and doing some face-to-face network- ing will improve your communications skills, get your name out in front, and usually make a you few friends in the process.
Jan.Feb.Mar 2019 • TPG 21
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