Path of Totality -
ECLIPSING EARTH SCIENCE
A few days ago, at a dinner with some friends and family, a discussion of the April 8th total solar eclipse and the swath of Texas that will be in the “path of totality” came up. The eclipse has been the subject of local and national news for nearly a year now, and it is exciting to see so much public interest in an earth science event. The solar eclipse path will transect Texas from southwest to northeast, entering Texas in the Maverick Basin, moving directly through the Llano Uplift and exiting the state through East Texas. Hotel rooms and Short-Term Rentals began booking up nearly a year ago as people wanted to be in the path to view the nearly four-minute-long totality (100% eclipse) as the moon’s shadow races across the Earth’s surface at about 2,000 miles per hour. A superb photo of this phenomenon as viewed from space can be seen at Nasa’s Astronomy Picture of the Day (apod.nasa.gov) for March 24, 2024.
A record number of visitors are expected in all these areas where the total eclipse can be viewed, along with the accompanying traffic and congestion, all things that people are willing to endure to see a major earth event. If you elect to not join the crowd in Central or East Texas, the eclipse will reach 94 percent of totality in the Houston area.
A likely boost in earth science interest will result among students in the next year, and the HGS Educational Outreach Committee should see a bump in interest in our Rocks and Minerals and our Bones in School programs. Volunteers for this committee are always needed as we get requests from schools all over the Houston area. The HGS may be coming to a school near you!
PATH FORWARD FOR THINGS IN TOTAL
The HGS endeavors to include the totality of geoscientists in Houston. Petroleum exploration geology dominated the early years of the Society with the oil boom in and around Houston. Over time, the scope of the Society expanded. Engineering and environmental geology became disciplines that were included. Academia, educators and students have been fully involved in the Society and activities. Occasionally, I have met mining (salt mainly) geologists and aggregate geologists during HGS activities. In addition, marine hazard specialists, and many petrophysicists, mineralogists, paleontologists are found among the Society’s membership. Geothermal geologists and those engaged in carbon capture and sequestration are also among the roster. The HGS supports the Texas Bureau of Professional Geology (TBPG) and its Professional Geologists (PG). Many of the mentioned disciplines are not exempted from the PG Act, unlike petroleum, and the broad spectrum of the HGS includes many PG members.
In a continuation of the theme, path of totality can apply to the operational changes the Society is experiencing. The way members interact has changed in the post-pandemic and increasingly virtual era. It incorporates changes in technology, in business climes, in networking behavior. Also included are financial changes, as cited in one of my earlier columns, with the loss of important income streams. The Society adapts to remain viable in all of these dynamics in order to serve the Houston Geological Community as well as the greater Houston Community in general.
MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND THESE APRIL EVENTS
April will see the regular monthly events such as the General Dinner, the Environmental & Engineering Dinner, the up-and-coming CCS Luncheon and the NeoGeos Happy Hour. GeoGulf is in San Antonio this year, and the HGS will be represented with a booth by the Exhibits Committee there. The Continuing Education Committee is featuring a Luncheon Talk with Scott Tinker, and of course, don’t miss the annual Shrimp Peel. Take a look at the calendar. I will be at many of these, and as always, look forward to seeing you there, too.
VOTE IN THE HGS OFFICER ELECTION FOR 2024-2025
The Officer Candidates have been announced and can be found elsewhere in this Bulletin, as well as on the website. Electronic Ballots will be arriving by email early this month. The Candidates have graciously offered their time and commitment, so please review their biographies and be sure to e-vote. Contact the office if you haven’t received a ballot by April 10.
SPECIAL THANKS FOR HELPING MOVE THE OFFICE
The office has completed its move three doors down from the previous location, saving nearly $15,000 per year in rent and yet maintaining storage space and access for the many needed items for committee support, including lots of rocks, of course! There is also a conference room that is available for committee meetings and members’ use, and a reception area that displays the many historic HGS memorabilia and (of course) rock, fossil and mineral specimens. The entire move was done with volunteer help, a benefit of just moving down the hall. Special thanks is given to everyone who helped: Andrea Peoples, Troy Meinen, Angel Callejon, Chuck Caughey, and the special efforts of several committees including Educational Outreach and Earth Science Week, who came in and organized their materials prior to the move.