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Why Join SPWLA!
The following are some excerpts from an article that
appears in the Spring/Summer 2002 Baker Atlas's Field Print Magazine.
Click here for
a pdf of the entire article Membership
has its Privileges.
Professional societies supply a forum for like-minded individuals in which
an exchange of ideas and information can take place. Joining a
professional society, such as the Society of Professional Well Log
Analysts (SPWLA), is beneficial for engineers, geologists, and other
professionals throughout their entire careers.
Besides keeping up with emerging technology, professional societies offer
members the opportunity to establish contacts with other operating and
service companies with whom they can share experiences and seek advice,
not to mention building friendships with people who share common goals,
concerns, and perspectives. Professional societies contain a veritable
wealth of information available through conferences, meetings, online,
publications, and presentations. Members may also publish papers to
establish individual reputation and to stimulate discussion on topics of
importance to the industry. Bottom line, professional societies allows
members to excel in their performance and optimize profits for their
employers and clients making membership a win-win situation for everyone.
Profile Building at the Local, National and
International Level
Andy Shaw, Communications manager for Baker Atlas, says,
“Participation in professional societies is important because of the
profile that it creates for people. Publishing papers, participation at
local society meetings, and making presentations help to reinforce and
validate the quality of our employees, the capability of our people, and
our company. Publishing at the annual technical conferences and meetings
is very important because of the peer review that occurs on the papers and
the kudos that are received for technical advances."
Jeremy Prosser, Baker Atlas Asia Pacific Geoscience manager, says,
“Society meetings are an important source of business intelligence. Not
only will you learn about new technology and new analytical techniques,
but the programs also give insight into current industry business drivers,
where competitors have been investing their technology dollars, and where
they have been applying their services. Participation by academic
institutions is normally pretty high, and this may provide a glimpse of
the future in terms of current academic research, and generate some new
ideas for your own business. The process is, of course, two-way. By
actively participating you also help to promote and raise the profile of
your own company.”
Sharing Knowledge and Education
Another major benefit of participating in a professional
society is the opportunity to connect with peers to discuss issues, ideas,
resources, and experiences. Allen Gilchrist, Baker Nuclear chief scientist
and former SPWLA president, says, “A primary purpose of professional
societies, such as the SPWLA, is to provide a forum for the exchange of
ideas among professionals in various aspects of formation evaluation,
exploration, and production of hydrocarbons. This can be done through
papers and presentations, or at the trade shows or exhibitions that
usually accompany society meetings.
States Bruce Bernard, a consultant who was formerly a vice president for
Shell International Ventures and the 2001 past president of the SPE,
“Professional societies offer unique resources to you and your business.
They offer global technology and best practice networks, online databases
of technical papers, electronic discussion groups, fill training gaps,
peer recognition of your work and commitment, low risk opportunities to
practice and develop personal leadership capabilities, local/regional and
global dimensions, and much more.”
Says Richard Merkel, senior petrophysicist for System Technology
Associates and a Past-President of SPWLA, “I firmly believe that the main
purpose and function of a professional society is the continuing education
of it members. These societies are the mechanism to bridge the academic
knowledge gained in a university to the applied as well as academic
aspects of science and engineering. For the scientist and engineer,
universities develop the tools necessary for each career path.
Professional societies are designed to maintain the skill level and also
to develop the knowledge of how to apply these skills. For SPWLA this is
done primarily in four ways—papers in the professional journal,
presentations at annual meetings and topical conferences, informal
interaction with colleagues and associates at meetings, and exhibitor
contacts at annual symposia.”
Notes Andy Shaw, Communications Manager for Baker Atlas, “Professional
societies are key industry forums for the discussion and technical
validation of what our core business is about. That is the techniques and
technologies that are designed and engineered to improve formation
evaluation, reservoir productivity, and minimize geological risk.”
Societies publish a lot of reference material, like journals, reference
guides, and books, that are important, especially for up and coming
engineers as they try to learn their art and science. Mark Alberty, senior
advisor, Petrophysics for BP and current SPWLA president, says, “One major
benefit of joining a professional society is the access to support
materials, such as paper search engines, copies of papers, membership
directories, mnemonic dictionaries, training course schedules, industry
calendars, shareware, local chapter notices, and so on.”
Networking, Personal Development and Credibility
With local chapters worldwide, professional societies offer a common
ground for peers to interact. Membership is an excellent way to establish
credibility for new and seasoned professionals alike. Says Stephen
Holditch, Schlumberger Fellow and the current 2002 SPE president, “To be a
professional and work as a professional, you have to belong to and be
active in a professional society. The activity lets one grow technically,
ethically, and socially. A good professional society provides the means
for a member to advance in their profession. New engineers need to set
targets and goals. If those goals include advancement up the technical or
management ladder, then belonging to a professional society is a
necessity.”
Nigel Dodds, Baker Atlas customer service manager and current president of
the LPS, states, “I have always been involved in the SPWLA in all of my
field locations, taking up positions on the committees where possible. The
LPS events give me a very different perspective on petrophysical issues. I
get to hear about a wider range of petrophysical issues and solutions than
I would otherwise experience. Alberty concurs, “A professional society is
a critical link between myself and my peers. It is the most important tool
I have to assess my skills relative to my peers and to seek out new and
improved methods to accomplish my job. Without this critical link, I
cannot effectively improve my performance and value to my employer.”
Says Merkel, “Maintaining contacts and interacting with colleagues who are
working on similar projects is just as important as understanding the
theory behind the latest tool development. Not only have I learned the
direction my profession is headed through society interaction, but also
have had some influence, although likely minor, in the course that it will
take by discussing problems and possible solutions with colleagues.”
Notes Dodds, “I thoroughly enjoy the society, but it is important to get
involved. Don’t just join for the sake of being able to quote this on your
CV or resumé. Attend the meetings and if possible, take an active role in
managing the society. I find that the intellectual element is stimulating,
and it definitely broadens your horizons in this industry.” Merkel
concurs, “Anyone can join a professional society so long as they can pass
the membership requirements. However, in order to capitalize on the
membership, one needs to participate. Like so many other things we do in
life, we get out no more that we put in. Accordingly, I encourage bright
new scientists and engineers to not only join societies on a local and
international level, but to participate in them by volunteering for
committee duty to maintain and grow the society. This is a sure way to
maximize the benefits offered by the organization.”
Gilchrist continues, “Professional societies are especially important for
those who are new to the industry. Various short courses, workshops, and
topical conferences are offered by professional societies throughout the
year. These can be a valuable addition to formal academic training or
in-house training. Local chapter or section meetings provide opportunities
to meet, share ideas, and develop relationships with clients in your area,
and larger meetings provide a national or international experience.”
Holditch implores, “Once you are a member, become active. Do not go to
meetings to sit and listen. Write papers and go to meetings to be a
participant. If you write papers and make presentations, people begin to
recognize you as a professional. It opens doors to new assignments and
opportunities that you will never see by sitting on the sidelines.”
Alberty says, “I have learned improved techniques to accomplish my job, my
personal technical strengths and weaknesses, and where opportunities exist
to introduce new solutions to old problems.”
Bernard sums it up best when he says, “This industry is first and
foremost about people, not the assets and reserves which they convert to
products. Professional societies have broadened my perspective and enabled
me to meet so many people who I would have never encountered otherwise.
This network, over 30 years, has turned out to be my most valuable one in
so many business situations and has enabled me to practice and learn
skills needed for career development and long-term personal fulfillment.”
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