The Case of the Missing G

This February, members will receive their first-ever PEG magazine. But for now, it’s a new version of the e-PEG we send your way.

That’s right. The PEGG newspaper is no more. The same goes for The PEGG name and, therefore, the e-PEGG name, too.

With the move to a magazine, the online publication of timely events takes on a more prominent and important role in the Association. You can expect more information in the e-PEG, and stronger ties to various online content at www.apega.ca.

What’s with the missing G? As you may know, your Association is moving to a single designation for geologists and geophysicists. Although the provincial government has not approved the legislative amendments yet, we decided to drop the extra G now in our publications.

More Access to PD Opportunities

A new section, previously found in The PEGG newspaper, will now appear as a sidebar in the e-PEG. PD Opportunities will showcase professional development opportunities that aren’t directly tied to the Association. These events happen in Alberta, across Canada and around the world. Click here to see January's listings. Also, check the sidebar area in February and in all future e-PEGS.

Our goal is to make checking out professional development opportunities quicker and easier for members – and make listings more effective to the technical and other organizations related to our professions.

Engaged. Diverse. Inspired.

APEGGA's Annual General Meeting and Annual Conference take place in Edmonton from April 15-17. This year's theme is Engineering and Geoscience Professionals. Engaged. Diverse. Inspired. It represents the diversity of APEGGA's professional members and  the work they do.

Join us for three days filled with a slate of opportunities to contribute to your professional Association and to be involved in career-building, networking and social events.

• Nominations, AGM announcement

• Schedule and Registration

Calling All Visual Artists

Are you or a family member a visual artist?

If so, you are invited to showcase your paintings, sculptures or photographs at the ninth annual APEGGA Art Show, which will be held prior to the 2010 Summit Awards Gala on Thursday, April 15, at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton.

To register for space or for more information, contact
Nanica Brown, Calgary Public Relations Coordinator
403-262-7714
artshow@apega.ca
Registration Deadline: Monday, March 22

Running a Green Business

Here are just 10 easy-to-implement ideas for running a green business, provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's Greening Operations guides. You can put these ideas into practice right now to make your office a more environmentally friendly place.

1. Turn off equipment when it's not being used. This can reduce the energy used by 25 per cent. Turning off computers at the end of the day can save an additional 50 per cent.

2. Encourage communications by email, and read email messages onscreen to determine whether it's necessary to print them. If it's not, don't!

3. Reduce fax-related paper waste by using a fax-modem and by using a fax cover sheet only when necessary. Fax-modems allow documents to be sent directly from a computer, without requiring a printed hard copy.

4. Produce double-sided documents whenever possible.

5. Do not leave taps dripping; always close them tightly after use. One drop wasted per second wastes 10,000 litres per year. 

6. Install displacement toilet dams in toilet reservoirs. Placing one or two plastic containers filled with stones (not bricks) in the toilet's reservoir will displace about four litres of water per flush – a huge reduction of water use over the course of a year.

7. Find a supply of paper with maximum available recycled content.

8. Choose suppliers that take back packaging for reuse.

9. Instigate an ongoing search for greener products and services in the local community. The further your supplies or service providers have to travel, the more energy they use.

10. Before deciding to purchase new office furniture, see if your existing office furniture can be refurbished. It's less expensive than buying new and better for the environment.

Environmentally friendly actions don't have to be large to have an impact. Consistently reducing the amount of energy, water, and paper our businesses use can make a huge difference, both to the environment and to our pocketbooks. How much paper would you save over the course of a year, for instance, if you always ran double-sided copies? A small thing - but a big result!

Two members fluent in speaking and writing French are needed as judges for events taking place from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the 2010 Edmonton Science Olympics.

Science Olympics is an interschool, hands-on science competition for students in Grades 1-12. It will be held on Saturday, March 6, at the Shaw Conference Centre. You must also be available to attend the orientation for judges from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 27, in the APEGGA office, at 1600, Scotia Centre, 10060 Jasper Ave.

To volunteer, contact Lindsay Malden at 780-426-3990 or lmalden@apega.ca

Science Night, Southeast Calgary

APEGGA will hold a family science fun night for Grades 5-7 at Nickle Middle School, 2500 Lake Bonavista Dr. S.E., on Wednesday, March 10.

Volunteers are needed to staff hands-on science activities and demonstrations that have already been prepared, as well as assist with set-up and take down. Volunteer hours are from 5-8:30 p.m.

This event is open only to members of the host school and will run from 6-8 p.m.

To volunteer, contact Fayrose Abdallah at fabdallah@apega.ca

Engineers Without Borders

Join the University of Calgary Chapter of Engineers Without Borders for its wine and cheese fundraiser. All proceeds will be used to support  EWB’s Junior Fellow Program and overseas work.

When: Thursday, Feb. 4, 7 p.m.
Where: Shwan Gallery, 104 214 11th Ave. S.E., Calgary

Purchase tickets or sponsor the event
More information

This event is for APEGGA members and invited guests only.

Professional Engineers Wanted

The University of Calgary Engineering Students Present their annual First and Second Year Engineering Dinner

Date: March 24
Place: The Fairmont Palliser Hotel
Reception and Dinner: 6-8:30 p.m.

A formal dinner with deep-seated traditions, this annual event is the highlight of the second semester for first and second year. This great occasion introduces to members of the faculty and industry. This dinner is also an opportunity to recognize outstanding professors who have contributed their experience and knowledge to better every student’s education.

GeoCanada 2010

GeoCanada 2010 is a once-in-a-decade opportunity for anyone who works with the Earth. Whether your focus is petroleum, base and precious metals, groundwater, geophysics, bedrock and seabed mapping, geohazards, uranium or environmental remediation, GeoCanada 2010 will present the latest developments. This is truly an update across the complete spectrum of Earth Science professions. It is the ultimate opportunity to gain insight into your profession and the Earth, sharing experiences and knowledge with your peers from across Canada.

When: May 10-14
Where: Calgary, Alberta

Call for abstracts is still open. Click here for more information.

Watch for these stories in coming hardcopy and online editions of The PEG

• The Case of the Missing G – Our new magazine launches in early February, with new features, more colour and a new approach to hardcopy coverage.
  
  
• Look Who’s Become a Member – You never know who is going to be joining the ranks of Alberta’s largest professional association.
  
  
• Teamwork Plus – Associated Engineering assembles a super team to come up with an award-winning upgrade of a water treatment plant.
  
  
• The Summit Series – more articles on our 2009 winners.
  
  
• Going Nuclear – Our inaugural mag takes on one of the hottest and most controversial energy subjects in the province.