Survey overview
The HGS Bulletin conducted a survey to better understand the views of members. The survey was opened on 1 September 2023 and responses were recorded through 8 November 2023. A total of 90 responses were recorded, which is approximately equivalent to a 95% confidence level with ±10% error for the surveyed population. See Figure 1 for demographic information. Survey results were dominated (nearly 80%) by people with more than 25 years of work experience. 50% of respondents are retired or self-employed, and 56% of respondents identify as technical contributors (Figures 2 and 3). This population of respondents dominated the survey results. Because less than 5% of responses came from early career people or students, the responses from this population are not within an acceptable confidence interval and margin of error.
In addition to the anonymous survey answers and written responses, nine HGS survey respondents volunteered to provide additional information: Dare Adeniyi, Lyle Baie, Meredith Faber, Joel Gervitz, Pete Lehle, Don Walker, Kurang Mehta, Richie Miller, and Haider Rizui. The discussion below highlights the feedback of survey respondents and those interviewed.
Most interesting topics
Survey respondents say that onshore and offshore domestic oil and gas are the topics they most want to learn about through the HGS (Figure 4). The population is almost evenly divided on the question of whether they are interested in international oil and gas, planetary geology and mining. More respondents indicated they were not interested in local geology of Houston; Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS); or Environmental and Engineering topics. Based on the small number of student and early career respondents, it is not possible to determine whether their responses would be similar or different to the large number of senior career respondents.
Despite the survey results indicating relatively low levels of interest in geothermal, CCUS, or Environmental Geology, written and verbal feedback from members provides a different perspective. Bill Dickson says, “Broaden the focus of HGS to think about CCUS and how we can use geotechnical expertise for siting solar and wind farms.” Haider Rizui notes that “HGS has been oil and gas centric, but HGS needs to rebrand to attract younger generations.” A similar view was shared by Richie Miller who wants to see HGS cover a broader range of geology topics to better respond to the changing industry.
Value of HGS
Survey respondents were asked to describe the value that they receive from their membership in HGS (Figure 5). The majority of respondents cite that networking and technical training/knowledge sharing is what they value most from HGS. Lyle Baie explains that technical training is highly valuable, and could be more impactful to early career members by focusing on fundamental problem-solving methodologies. Because many of the Oil and Gas field in the US are discovered, Baie recommends the HGS focus its training on workflows to discover bypassed pay or near field wildcats. He says that the methodology of being an oil-finder starts with understanding the history of a field and historical economics, rather than with a brand-new 3D seismic survey.
Leadership opportunities, such as opportunities for committee work were valuable to less than 30% of the respondents. This survey result is in sharp contrast to the feedback from HGS member Charles Sternbach, who says, “To all HGS members, if you want to derive more from your membership volunteer to serve HGS. In nearly 40 years as a member, I have learned a simple equation. The more you give the more you benefit.” Multiple members expressed concern and frustration that younger members are not selected for leadership opportunities. Meredith Faber says, “Please don’t recycle old leaders when you’ve got young professionals ready and willing to serve. Make volunteer opportunities known.” Faber proposes that HGS should either make an open call for Board nominations, or specifically allocate some seats for early career professionals. Similarly, Kurang Mehta suggest that the HGS should provide younger volunteers with more committee leadership opportunities.
Do more, do less, or stay the same?
Consistent with the feedback from respondents that technical training and knowledge sharing is of high value to them, 56% respondents want HGS to do more of this (Figure 6). Based on feedback from survey-takers, HGS members want to see more virtual and recorded talks. Don Walker says, “Not all of the HGS membership lives in Houston. Please provide virtual attendance opportunities at talks so that those of us who want to remain engaged with HGS but are not currently in Houston can maximize value for money from the dues we pay. Every meeting of the Austin Geological Society has a virtual option for remote attendees, and this is common practice with SPE. My home is Houston, but I'm currently posted outside the U.S. for my job. I want to remain engaged with HGS. Please make that easier for me.” An anonymous survey respondent says, “Would appreciate hybrid talks, a more inclusive price range, talks on different days (Wed/Thurs), and shorter events when they’re held at night.”
While only 30% of respondents say that HGS should offer more social opportunities, Bill Dickson wants to see the HGS pair social activities with technical activities. He says, “When you walk into a pub, you think party, but when you walk into a conference room it’s a different attitude even if the topic is the same.” Dickson advocates that Craft Republic (where the E&E Committee hold their monthly meetings), is a venue where people can experience both the social and technical value of HGS membership. Joel Gervitz offers that not all members of the HGS want to socialize through crawfish boils and golfing. He suggests starting a “jam session” group to attract musicians.
Approximately 40% of respondents say that education and outreach is of high value to them, and approximately the same percentage of respondents want HGS to do more of this. Multiple members expressed the view that HGS should do more education and outreach. Haider Rizui wants to see HGS take a much more active role in exposing high school students to geology, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. Pete Lehle also expressed strong encouragement for HGS to spend more time in schools. Lehle couples the need to get into schools with a message that the HGS should be a stronger advocate for the Oil and Gas Industry. He says, “Be a better advocate for the truth. We need more advocacy that what we do is good for humanity.”
Reading between the lines
Three additional key themes emerged from the written and verbal feedback from survey respondents. First, members want the HGS to do more for workers in transition. Joel Gervitz says, “The Society needs to pay attention to what happens to us geologists; it needs to support people who are out of work.” Gervitz suggests that HGS can support transitional geologists by offering business training courses, seminars on setting up LLCs, and resources for entrepreneurs. Similarly, the feedback from one anonymous respondent is that “HGS should do more on employment opportunities, networking with other professional societies in greater Houston and in Texas.”
Second, multiple respondents indicated a desire to see more family-friendly events. For example, one anonymous respondent says the HGS needs “more family related events where children/guests can learn about our profession/science.” Another anonymous respondent says, “Bring back more family related activities, YMCA camp, fall festival, museum night.”
Although the data from survey respondents suggest uniformity of member viewpoints, verbal interviews reveal diversity of opinions. While some members want HGS be strictly focused on Oil and Gas and believe that the HGS should be an advocate for more Oil and Gas exploration (i.e., advocate against other forms of energy), other members think HGS should be advocating for a wide range of energy sources and expose its members to a wide range of geology topics. There is a vocal contingent of members who believe that younger people need to “earn a seat at the table,” and there is a group of members who want to see HGS allocate leadership seats for early career people and students. While some members want all events to be in person at the Norris Center so that things can “get back to normal,” many members embrace virtual events, lunchtime events and diverse venues. Furthermore, although some members believe the Society is welcoming to younger members, a quote from one mid-career member describes his experience this way, “Everyone is 20-30 years older than me. Same faces, same people all the time; it’s like a clique. It’s a turnoff.”
