What is your definition of success?
This month I talked with Michael Campbell about his contributions to mining and hydrogeology, and I talked with Cathy Farmer about her contributions to the Potential Gas Study. The definition of professional success and establishing a legacy was an undercurrent of both interviews.
Reflecting on what I’ve heard from HGS members over the past eight months, I am surprised by what is on the “success” list and what is missing. Mature-career HGS members tend to define their professional success by their contributions to the following: the profession of geology, the science of geology, the energy supply, or education and mentorship. Interestingly, job titles and promotions rarely make it to the list of success-defining characteristics. Meetings, presentations, reports and other day-to-day business that seems so important in the moment does not make or break a successful career.
Success is contributing to the profession
When I first spoke with long-time HGS member Richard Howe in July 2023, he highlighted one way that he and other HGS members contributed to the profession of geology. Howe described the HGS’ role in advocating for Professional Geologists to sign and seal reports where geology impacts the public’s health and safety.
Howe also explained the importance of contributing to the profession by contributing to professional societies. Many others echo this view. For example, in this month’s conversation with Michael Campbell, he highlighted being elected President of the Energy Minerals Division of AAPG and Chairman of the Energy and REE Committee, among many examples of service.
Success is contributing to the science
For many HGS members, contributing to the science of geology is a strong metric of success. For example, the HGS Buffalo Bayou study group was established in December 2023 to contribute to the geologic understanding of the stratigraphic and structural history of Houston’s Buffalo Bayou. We have 25 group members, including former Bulletin Editor Ken Thies, who has extensively studied the Pleistocene stratigraphy and paleontology of Houston. Thies and others are interested in contributing to science by sharing their decades-long experience and expertise.
Similarly, Howard Kiatta, who I interviewed for the October Bulletin describes that one of his key accomplishments was to produce the book Typical Oil and Gas Fields of Southeast Texas, Volume II, and to facilitate creation of 3-D Seismic Case Histories from the Gulf Coast Basin. In both of these books, Kiatta was able to leverage his decades of experience in South Texas and Gulf Coast geology.
Success is contributing to the world’s energy supply
Many HGS members describe their success in terms of barrels of oil or cubic feet of gas discovered. Bill Maloney, described the success of increasing Equinor’s North America production from 75 KOEBD to 300 KOEBD (March Bulletin). Similarly, Cathy Farmer (this Bulletin) highlighted that her major career achievements have been the oil and gas discoveries she made, such as finding 1 BBOE in Senegal in 2014. John Seitz (February Bulletin) explained success in terms of the number of successful exploration and appraisal programs he led, including the 30 MBO Rochelle field.
Success is contributing mentorship and education
As I looked across the room at the HGS Scholarship night dinner held in February, I saw dozens of mature-career HGS members beaming with pride at the accomplishments of the students receiving awards. Jeff Lund, Bill Demis, Walter Light, Linda and Charles Sternbach and many others have supported these students with career mentoring because it is fulfilling to see students succeed.
Cindy Yeilding described in the March Bulletin that she is working with her son, who is a Rice University student, to develop and promote simple, easy to understand information about energy systems. For Yeilding, success is using her platform as a retired BP executive, well-published scientist, and oil-finder to educate others about energy. Similarly, Robbie Gries (January Bulletin) had a long and technically-successful career as an independent wildcatter, and has chosen to devote much of her time over the past decade to writing the stories of other women geologists as a way to amplify their voices and educate others about their stories.
Reflections on success in this edition of the Bulletin:
● Learn about Michael Campbell’s career and legacy in an interview about his recently published memoirs in Michael D. Campbell: Anecdotes of a Lifetime
● Read about Cathy Farmer’s contributions to the United States Potential Gas Assessment in A conversation with Cathy Farmer: From Roustabout to Senior Advisor for the Potential Gas Agency
● See career reflections from Petros Papazis in We are the HGS
● Learn from Mike Erpenbeck about HGS members who will receive awards at the upcoming GeoGulf Convention in HGS Members Featured in GeoGulf24 Awards Ceremony
● Take a self-guided field trip to see a compilation of Mustafa Saribudak’s geophysical contributions on faults in Houston in The Active Faults of Harris County: A Self-paced Field Guide