EDITOR’S CORNER Inside the TPG John L. Berry, CPG-4032
This issue we welcome a new member to the team that puts together TPG. Sara Pearson will be doing the layout, the most critical single task in getting out the magazine. Sara is a CPG and is Supervisor of the Information Management Unit of the Michigan DEQ Remediation and Redevelopment Division in Lansing. Welcome, Sara!
In institute news, probably the most important item is the article by President-Elect Doug Bartlett and President Adam Heft introducing a new membership category, provisionally entitled “Nationally Licensed Geologist”. This is will be a qualification whose requirements are more stringent than the most rigorous state requirements: it will require, in addition to the current requirements for CPG, successful passage of both parts of the ASBOG exam, and mandatory participation in AIPG continuing professional development program. For Geologists who wish to practice in states where they are not licensed, AIPG will be in a position, at the member’s request, to quickly supply all the documents needed to gain reciprocity. In those states that do not license geologists, it is hoped that the new qualification will become quickly recognized as providing assurance to the public of competent and ethical performance. This new qualification may be particularly important for geolo- gists working in States that abolish professional licensing of geologists. For those geologists who practice internationally, it is intended that this qualification will be recognized as the highest available in the United States, and the equal or better of any available overseas. Since nearly 50% of us originally joined AIPG because of the CPG qualification it offers, and over 25% still think this is the most important function of AIPG, we hope that this upgrade will find strong support.
Not only is State licensing of geologists under attack, but in some places State Geological Surveys are also under attack. In his column Executive Director Aaron Johnson discusses the benefits that surveys have brought to their states, and how we as practicing scientists are often dependent on their products, and especially the geological maps they produce. He points out that, as a result, “we have an ethical responsibility to ensure that we give public credit to state surveys when their products provide important support for our work.”
In a companion article David Abbott discusses the need for, and the benefits of, participation in AIPG’s Continuing Professional Education program. He discusses the activi- ties that qualify, and easy and not-so-easy ways of keeping the necessary records. Having, in my youth, been subjected to the tender ministrations of a dentist who never went to dental school but learned the trade by apprenticeship, and then grandfathered into his license to practice, and was never required to update his skills, I can personally vouch for the benefits of formal qualifications and continuing education
www.aipg.org
in any profession. To this gruff Scot, anesthetic during an extraction or a filling was only of benefit to the “wee girrls”: the characters of the “wee lads” could only be strengthened by the pain of an unprotected extraction!
We feature in this issue the essays submitted by AIPG Scholarship winners. If you read these you will find that we have helped some fantastic young people to begin their careers: fantastic in the obstacles some have overcome to be geologists, and fantastic in the goals – ranging from helping to save the planet to being great teachers and mentors for the generation coming up behind them – that they have set for themselves. Some of these young people are terrific writers, and I’m sure that you will be reading more from them in TPG in the future. I don’t want to single out any individuals – you’ll have to find out for yourself what a great crew of scholars we are encouraging!
We also have four very diverse Student Voice articles, rang- ing in topic from advice on mentoring to water policy in the Everglades, from geotourism in Italy to an innovative use of GS to study tectonics of the Ancestral Rockies.
Our peer-reviewed article discusses some not-so-obvious ways that noxious gases and vapors (VOCs – but I hate acronyms) can get into our houses, especially if we live in areas where the sewage system are old and ill-maintained. Who knew that geology as a science could extend into such esoteric areas?
Enjoy! AIPG Membership Totals As of CPG / Active
CPG / Emeritus Prof. Member
Prof. Member/Non-Practicing Associate Member Young Professional Student Adjunct TOTALS
7/13/2016 3,082 444 879 22 48
101
3,159 7,735
As of
7/3/2017 2,929 462 835 34 52 99
2,492 6,903
Jul.Aug.Sep 2017 • TPG 37
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