January 2006 ISSUE
Marc Boulet
STUDENT COLUMNS
WESTERN INTER-UNIVERSITY CONFERENCE EXPANDS INTO GEOPHYSICS
BY MARC BOULET
University of Calgary
Student Contributor (Geosciences)
Information is the seed for an idea, and only grows when it is watered. Heinz Bergen
With the planning and organization for the next Western Inter-University Geosciences Conference entering its final stages, I thought I would inform you of the details for this upcoming event — which this year brings geophysics into the fold.
The conference, known as WIUGC, will be held at the TELUS Convention Centre in Calgary from Jan. 5-7.
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Dr. Phil Currie |
Fourteen students enrolled in the U of C geology and geophysics program have been hard at work since March to ensure the next successful staging of this 42-year-old tradition. I spoke with Paul Levesque, the 2006 WIUGC Committee chairman, to get a sense of what we can expect.
“We are hoping for upwards of 300 undergrad and graduate students from across Western Canada,” said Paul. “We believe that the WIUGC is a great way to showcase the incredibly diverse knowledge base that Calgary, and Alberta as a whole, offer in the geosciences.
“We also felt that it was important to acknowledge the growing reach and sophistication of the geosciences, and not to be limited strictly to geological topics. As a result, the G in WIUGC has been officially changed to stand for geosciences instead of geological.”
In this spirit, 2006 will mark the first time that the field of geophysics will form an integral part of the WIUGC. This year’s short course, offered by Veritas DGC Inc., will focus on cutting-edge seismic techniques used in exploration geophysics, such as modern multi-component acquisition, time-lapse seismic and amplitude variation with offset and prestack depth migration.
This year’s keynote speaker will be Dr. Philip Currie, the former curator of dinosaurs at the Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology and currently a Canada Research Chair at the University of Alberta. Dr. Currie will explain where Alberta’s reputation as a dinosaur haven comes from.
Delegates will also be able to visit the Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller to get a behind-the-scenes tour of its world-famous dinosaur collection. A field trip to the EUB Core Research Centre and the 3D Imaging Centre at the U of C will also be offered, as well as a fun downtown building geology tour.
A number of student posters and talks will allow delegates to share their research with their peers.
Industry Sponsorship
Paul was quick to remark that the geoscience industry in Calgary has been very
responsive in helping the WIUGC committee organize this year’s conference. “We
have received tremendous support from our sponsors throughout the city,” he
states, “and our fundraising goals have almost been met.
“However, there is still time and opportunity for the PEGG’s readership to help us show off the spirit of Calgary’s geoscience community — we would certainly welcome their support in this endeavour.” Please consult the WIUGC website for further information.
In the meantime, I’d like to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season, and stay tuned for more news in the new year, including a final report on the 2006 WIUGC.
MORE INFO
Visit www.wiugc2006.info