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American Geological Institute

2001 AGI Geoscience Associate's Conference

Breakout Group #4 Report

Christine Ando ExxonMobil

Lee Avery West Virginia Geological Survey

Dave Groves Newmont Mining

Katie Kellerlynn Geological Society of America

Brian Lock University of Louisiana, Lafayette

Arthur Slyvester University of California, Santa Barbara

Scope of Breakout

Ø Funding field courses and trips

Ø Cost impact to students

Ø University liability

Ø Out-of-state tuition charges for field camp

Ø Decreasing enrollments in field camps and courses

Breakout Tool – What’s Working, What’s Not Working?

What’s Working

What’s Not Working Well

Ø Creative/flexible field settings

Ø Self insurance by universities

Ø Students directed to schools that provide field training

Ø Costs passed on to students as a “lab” charge for field trips Promoting the field experience early and often

Ø Industry and government internships

Ø Alumni funding drives specifically for field training

Ø Field Loss-Prevention programs

Ø Field-camp clearinghouses, i.e. newsletters, web sites

Ø Consistent access to field locations

Ø Schools that don’t require field training

Ø Universities unwilling to give up control of field experience

Ø Continuing professional education

Ø Funding for graduate field training

Ø Not enough field internships

Ø Sharing of “Best Practices” among universities, e.g. creative funding, flexible environments, recruiting methods, loss-control statistics and programs

Ø Capitalizing on renewed industry experience

Team Recommendations

1. Develop forums for communicating field-training “Best Practices” as they apply to:

Ø Sources for funds to defray the cost of field camps and courses;

Ø Optimal cost structures for field camps, e.g. what works best for the customer (the student) and the vendor;

Ø Keeping records of field injuries and accidents in order to develop proactive Loss-prevention programs;

Ø Ways to mitigate, transfer or insure field liabilities; and

Ø Field course content/architecture.

It was suggested that GSA hold a field-camp forum or session at its annual meeting and that AGI develop a web page dedicated to the sharing of information pertaining to field camps and field courses for undergraduates, graduate students and professionals.

2. In addition to field camp and undergraduate field-methods courses, provide:

Ø Industry-sponsored and subsidized field excursions for students;

Ø Society-sponsored excursions for students (increase awareness among students);

Ø More industry (petroleum, mining, engineering, consulting) and government-sponsored (federal, state and local) internships for students;

Ø Space for students and faculty from other universities in field courses and camps;

Ø More opportunities for undergraduates to assist graduate students with fieldwork.

3. Use the field experience to increase enrollment, funding and acceptance of field training by:

Ø Taking key stakeholders (university administrators, industry supporters, landowners, and alumni) on field excursions; and

Ø Including non-majors (with possible emphasis on Education majors) and young prospects on field excursions.

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