b'Conferences and eventsNewsAEGC 2019: ReflectionsThe Second Australasian Explorationexhibitors. Helen Debenham dug upaudience were well entertained by wacke Geoscience Conference (AEGC 2019),some outstanding presentations tocomedian Peter Rowsthorn. Thanks must jointly hosted by the ASEG, thecontribute to an exceptional technicalalso go to the various sub-committee Petroleum Exploration Society ofprogramme featuring more than 280members, too numerous to name, who Australia (PESA) and the Australianoral presentations and 80 posters.took on a seis-able amount of work. Institute of Geoscientists (AIG) andShane Mule and Andrew Buffin createdExpert marshalling by Renee Bennett and incorporating the 27th ASEG Geophysicala one stop workshop and quartzher team from Encanta ensured that the Conference and Exhibition, and the PESAprogramme attracting 504 attendees,conference had many lavas.West Australian Basins Symposia, was aincluding one particularly enthusiastic truly clastic event held at Crown Perthdelegate, who clearly seeing no faultsIts been a gneiss experience but its from 2 to 5 September 2019. in the line-up, attended four separatenow time to pass the responsibility for workshops. organising the next rocking conference Spring failed to arrive early in Perth,to the Brisbane committee. Look forward but the rain failed to dampen anyonesCameron Adams ensured that theto seeing you there!enthusiasm with nearly 1200 delegatesstudents apatite for what can be a attending. Heather Tompkins andtuff subject was not diminished withOn behalf of the AEGC 2019 Donna Sewell took nothing forstudents being well cratered for across byConferenceOrganising Committee,granite and organised an outstandinga range of interesting activities. Lendynco-chairs Tim Dean (ASEG) and John Gorter exhibition featuring more than 85Philip ensured the conference dinner(PESA) and treasurer John Warner (AIG)AEGC 2019: Further reflectionsIt was with pleasure that I accepted anat https://www.aseg.org.au/history/invitation to reflect on Septembers AEGCkey-dates suggests that dilution has conference. Ted Tyne, in his Presidentsbeen occurring for some time. Of the piece, and conference co-chairs Tim Dean28 conferences that the ASEG has and John Gorter in their Reflections coversupported, only 14 were solely convened the conference particularly well, makingby the ASEG. The remainder were joint it difficult to identify a niche. And so, itventures, mostly with PESA.is probably more appropriate, as ASEGSo how to address comments that President Elect, that I focus on the future. geophysics is being diluted? One At the time of writing it is quite soon afterapproach is to get involved in future the conference, and many members of theconferences. Attempt to present Conference Organising Committee (COC)interesting, relevant results. Case have either taken a well-earned breakhistories are generally very well received. or returned to work, so full conferenceAn AEGC context with reduced limits statistics have yet to be properly compiled.on submission size, might allow a fuller One set of numbers that has been madegeological explanation in conjunction available by the COC surrounds theFigure 1.Conference attendance by societywith relevant geochemistry to give a numbers of attendees and their affiliations.affiliation. complete context to the work. Joining Figure 1 presents conference attendancewould likely consider AEGC 2021, allthe organising committee of the next in terms of member society. Of the 1182indicated that they would likely attend.AEGC is a significant commitment, but unique conference participants, 343 wereAlthough the Unidentified categoryone that is equally rewarding.Members of the ASEG, 227 were Membersfrom Figure 1 will be dissected in theAnother approach to perceptions of of PESA, 141 were Members of the AIG andCOCs detailed report to the hostingdilution might be to work within a 501 were not identified with any Society.societies, initial indications suggestspecific domain to address needs. Some The ASEG could reasonably be regarded asthat the AEGC has largely identified anexamples of this are one-day workshops the dominant partner of the triumvirate. appropriate audience viz. the explorationon Airborne Electromagnetics (2012) The dominance of geophysics wasgeoscience community. It is thereforeand Geophysical Inversion (2014), the equally reflected in the exhibition andcritically important that future AEGCcontents of which are located at https://the technical sessions. Indeed, a numberconferences continue to address thiswww.aseg.org.au/continuous-education/of non-geophysicists (geologists andcommunity. workshop-proceedings. The ASEG is geochemists) have commented on thisIn the spirit of swings and roundabouts,always happy to support such initiatives.dominance. When asked whether therecomments have also been heardDave Annetts was enough in such a conference toaroundthe dilution of the ASEGASEG President Elect interest them, effectively, whether theyconference. A quick check of conferencespresident-elect@aseg.org.au25 PREVIEW OCTOBER 2019'