YOUNG PROFESSIONAL’S VIEW Looking Back
Stephanie Jarvis, YP-0125,
stephaniekjarvis@gmail.com
My favorite annual issue of TPG is the one with the scholarship essays in it. I always find it refreshing to read the stories of rock collections and great teachers, of early explorations and mind-blowing revelations, of the enthusiasm that comes from finding a passion and having the freedom to thor- oughly explore it. It’s a good reminder of my own enthusiasm for the science and the possibilities—enthusiasm that can occasionally get buried in the day-to-day. This year’s batch prompted me to go dig up my own scholarship essay from 2009 (“Gertrude and the Gorge: The begin- nings of a Geologist”). I expected to be embarrassed by my idealistic younger self and to feel disconnected from the aspirations of long ago. At the very least, I figured I’d get a good laugh. I was sur- prised by how true it still rang, in some ways feeling truer than much of what I’ve
written recently. Sometimes, we have a lot to learn from our younger selves.
David Abbott, CPG-4570, who is much better at keeping up with such things than I, recently noted that this column marked six full years as a regular TPG columnist for me. Six years of scrambling for topics at the last minute, of fully exploiting my naive-student/YP status to address controversial issues, and of hashing out issues I hadn’t been able to articulate until I was writing whatever came to mind and suddenly found myself with a column. A lot has happened in six years, though to attempt to sum- marize it in hindsight makes it seem pretty boring. A few things have stayed consistent, including my enthusiasm for the science and my mom’s willingness to be my personal editor (thanks Mom!!). To say I have appreciated the opportunity to share my thoughts and experiences
UC Davis-AIPG Califonia Section had an initial meeting on October 7, 2011. The highlight of the meeting was introduc- ing a new co-advisor for the UC Davis Student Section Prof. Nicholas Pinter.
during that time with AIPG would be an understatement. I am, however, feeling the need for a break from being a regular columnist and six years is a good mile- stone to pause and reassess. Therefore, this is the last of the Young Professional Column you will be seeing from me, though I am sure I will be writing guest columns from time to time. Any other YPs out there, I strongly encourage you to step up and share your prospective with us! It is truly a great experience.
Once again, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be part of TPG. I have learned so much from the feedback I’ve received and the people I’ve met (both in person and virtually) over the years, and I look forward to continuing my involvement with AIPG in other ways. Thanks for reading, and congratu- lations to the 2015 Scholarship winners!
Calling all members… TPG is your magazine! We’re starting a new feature on field work adventures, or pos- sibly more aptly named “misadventures.” The idea was suggested by CPG Jim Burnell.
Most geologists have conducted field work at some time for a project, research, or non-work pleasure - please consider your field experiences and write us a story to share, especially with newer geologists. The field piece could be about one of your adventures that was the most rewarding, challenging, funny, hapless, dangerous, in an unlikely location, etc.
Dr. Pinter (left in the photo) is the Shlemon Chair in Applied Geology Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences and Center for Watershed Sciences at the University of California Davis. Dr. Zierenberg will continue as a co- advisor, but is on a sabbatical this year. The new co-advisor is an expert in applied geologic problem solving and he presented an overview of his interesting fluvial forensic cases that he has worked on during the past few years. Steve Baker and Bob Sydnor, California Section Student Mentors answered professional geology questions. Chris Holt, the new UC Davis Student Section president and James Jacobs, sponsor were also present.
We know you have a good story out there! Were you swinging from a helicopter, chased by a bull, stranded on an ice floe, drilling in -50 wind chill, or filleting lizards to survive the desert? Or maybe you were pulled over by police and taught how drive a manual shift in a foreign country like student member columnist Franklin Wolfe (see page 42)!
Perhaps your “field” was in a court room or speaking at a public presentation, and involves a good story about interacting with non-geologists. Have you been pum- meled by tomatoes, misquoted to the point of humor or embarrassment, questioned by bungling counsel and shot back a good geologic retort? We await your response...
www.aipg.org
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