ATLANTIC GEOSCIENCE SOCIETY

PRESIDENT'S FORUM

Well it's a new year, a new century and a new millennium and I'm pleased to say that the Atlantic Geoscience Society is alive and well. I am very excited to assume the responsibilities of the President of the AGS. Our outgoing President, Chris White, has done an admirable job this past year and I have enjoyed working with him.

I would like to thank all of the executive and councillors who have agreed to serve for the 2000-2001 term. A complete list of executive and councillors is given in Chris White's report in this Newsletter. A special thanks to Georgia Pe-Piper from Saint Mary's University and Hugo Beltrami from St. Francis Xavier University for serving as councillors this past year. Their contributions to the society were valued and will be missed.

The concurrent AGS Colloquium and meeting of the Environmental Earth Science Division (EESD) of the GAC, in Fredericton, were well organized and enjoyable to attend. Despite the inclement weather (which in itself is an AGS tradition) the conference ran very smoothly. Congratulations to the organizers including Tom Al, Bruce Broster, Nicole Cormier, Christine Lodge, Mike Parkhill, Toon Pronk and Clint St. Peter and to the many student volunteers who gave of their time. This year I was particularly impressed by the quality of the student papers and posters. These young scientists continue to improve the quality of student presentations. Congratulations to the student award winners including Michael Young who received the Rupert MacNeill Award for the best oral presentation, Christine Dyble who received the Graham Williams Award for best poster and Ian DeWolfe who received the Noranda Award for the best economic student presentation.

In addition to the student awards mentioned above, this year's Annual Banquet and Social featured two awards to very deserving recipients. David Piper was awarded the AGS Distinguished Scientist (Gesner) Medal. David is a remarkably prolific geoscientist who has published extensively on a broad spectrum of topics from his specialty in marine sedimentology to igneous petrology, geochemistry and structural geology. David has also contributed to the Atlantic geoscience community through his work advising students over the years. I would also like to congratulate Peter Wallace for receiving the AGS Distinguished Service Award. Peter has been a stalwart member of the AGS for many years and has helped to shape the society through his many contributions. We in the AGS are truly fortunate to have members like David and Peter in our midst.

What else should I include in this preamble? I could talk about the many initiatives that the AGS is currently undertaking such as The Last Billion Years book, the EdGEO program and the new Lexicon, to name a few. However, as the new President, I am still getting up to speed on many of these projects, so I thought that I'd write about the state of the mining industry as we enter the new Millennium.

Earlier this year, I attended the Mining Millennium 2000 conference in Toronto that is a joint meeting of the Prospectors Association of Canada (PDAC) and Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM). Attendance was projected to be in excess of 10,000 and the event highlighted all aspects of the mining industry from exploration to produc-tion and reclamation. Once again this year's conference featured the Atlantic Rock Room, a collaborative venture by prospectors and government surveys of the Atlantic Provinces.

Not so long ago, the PDAC announced that the Canadian mineral industry is facing significant challenges. First, Canadian mine exploration levels are severely depressed. Secondly, major mineral-producing companies are spending more of their exploration dollars offshore. Thirdly, there has been a collapse of financial markets for the junior exploration sector. This crisis in mineral exploration levels is placing a long-standing Canadian infrastructure, such as drilling contractors, helicopter companies, professional geologists, geophysicists and engineers, hotel services and outfitters, at risk. This will have an overall effect of eroding Canada's competitive edge, and detrimentally effect its pre-eminent position as leader in the global mining industry.

So what does all this have to do with the AGS? Why am I droning on about this? Should you be aware of, or concerned about, this trend? I think so. A healthy industry not only provides year-round high-paying jobs for people in rural parts of the Atlantic region, it also provides a market for current geoscience research. What are your thoughts on this issue? Drop me a line if you have any comments.

Tel: (902) 424-2523
Fax: (902) 424-7735
E-mail: mamacdon@gov.ns.ca

In closing, I look forward to working with the other members of the executive and council in continuing the important work of the Atlantic Geoscience Society.

Mike MacDonald, AGS President

ATLANTIC GEOSCIENCE SOCIETY 2000 COLLOQUIUM

Fredericton, New Brunswick

This year's annual Colloquium marked the first partnership effort between the Atlantic Geoscience Society (AGS) and the Environmental Earth Science Division (EESD) of the Geological Association of Canada.

The three day event (February 10-12, 2000) was held at the Fredericton Inn, Fredericton, New Brunswick, and attracted more than 170 geoscientists. Those in attendance benefitted from a full agenda with a day and a half dedicated to each organization's program.

This AGS conference summary represents my first official duty as Past President. The AGS portion of the conference was kicked off on Friday evening with a keynote lecture by the Geological Association of Canada's Past President Medallist, Dr. Cees van Staal. Cees gave an informative and engaging presentation entitled "The geological history of the Brunswick subduction complex in Bathurst, northern New Brunswick: an important clue to understanding the tectonic evolution of the Northern Appalachian Orogen". The rest of the evening and all day Saturday focused on the main conference theme "Current research in the Atlantic Provinces", as well as a Special Session on the "Geology of the Maritimes Basin" (Saturday morning). Almost sixty abstracts were delivered, representing a diverse and impressive collection of oral and poster presenta-tions. It was also encouraging to see that students authored twenty-four of these presentations. This emphasizes the importance of this venue for the professional development of students and professionals alike.

A big thank you goes to the session Chairs: Reg Wilson, Kirsten McLaughlin, Don Fox, Paul McNeill, Peter Giles, Megan Surrette, Dave Lentz, Tanya Costain, Mike MacDonald, Diana Loomer, Sandra Barr and Nicole Dunham. These talented volunteers managed to keep things on track and facilitated many constructive exchanges.

The Conference came to a close on Saturday evening with the Annual Banquet and Social. The Banquet Speaker, Dr. Ian Hutcheon, President of the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists gave an excellent talk entitled "CO₂ emissions and hydro-carbons: a geochemists perspective". This left us with an optimistic feeling that humans do have a future on this planet. The banquet is also a time for recognizing various achievements via the AGS Award program (see summary below). In keeping with the "Maritime geological tradition" the conference ended with a "kitchen party" social. A few of the more talented AGS members entertained us with folk songs and instrumentals (guitars, mandolin and fiddle). The party went on well into the night and a good time was had by all (so I am told).

On behalf of AGS, I would like to thank the Joint Meeting Chairs Bruce Broster (EESD) and Tom Al (AGS); other co-members of the organizing committee Nicole Cormier, Christine Lodge, Mike Parkhill, Toon Pronk, and Clint St. Peter; as well as members of the University of New Brunswick Bailey Geological Society, and University of New Brunswick Geological Association of Graduate Students. Their combined efforts helped to make this years Colloquium a very successful one. Of course, thanks also go to our corporate sponsors: New Brunswick Department of the Environment, Noranda Mining and Exploration (Brunswick Mining Division), Three-D Consultants Limited and Universal Systems Limited. Their support is greatly appreciated and certainly was put to good use.

In closing, I would like to re-iterate the my sincere thank you for the opportu-nity to be a part of such a dynamic and professional organization. I look for-ward to working with the new slate of AGS executives and councillors on the challenges ahead.

Chris White, Past President, AGS

EXECUTIVE AND COUNCIL MEMBERS 2000-2001

Executive

Past-President: Chris White
Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, Halifax, NS

President: Mike MacDonald
Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, Halifax, NS

Vice-President: Tom Martel
Corridor Resources, Halifax, NS

Secretary: Peter Giles
Geological Survey of Canada (Atlantic), Dartmouth, NS

Treasurer: Ken Howells
Dartmouth, NS

Editor
Jennifer Bates, Geological Survey of Canada (Atlantic) Dartmouth, NS

Publicity
Chris White, Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, Halifax, NS

Councillors
Tom Al, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB
Jennifer Bates, Geological Survey of Canada (Atlantic), Dartmouth, NS
Jarda Dostal, Saint Mary's University, Halifax, NS
Paul Durling, Corridor Resources, Halifax, NS
Linda Ham, Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, Halifax, NS
Randy Miller, New Brunswick Museum Natural Science Division, Saint John, NB
Dave Mossman, Mount Allison University, Sackville, NB
Brendan Murphy, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, NS
Mike Parkhill, New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources and Energy, Fredericton, NB
Alan Ruffman, Geomarine Associates Limited, Halifax, NS
Ian Spooner, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS
Clint St. Peter, New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources and Energy, Fredericton NB
Peter Wallace, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
Dick Wardle, Newfoundland Department of Mines and Energy, St. John's, NF
Tim Webster, College of Geographic Sciences, Lawrencetown, NS

On behalf of AGS, I would like to thank Councillors Georgia Pe-Piper (Saint Mary's University) and Hugo Beltrami (St. Francis Xavier University) for their valuable contributions to AGS activities. Their input will be missed.

Chris White, Past President, AGS

AGS AWARDS

Student Awards

Student awards are given annually to the best oral presentation (Rupert MacNeill Award) and the best poster presentation (Graham Williams Award) at the annual Atlantic Geoscience Society Colloquium. Assigned judges rank the student presentations based on scientific content, organization and presentation of data and, for the posters, overall display aesthetics. The awards include a plaque with the name and university of the recipient, and a $100 cheque for the purchase of geological reference material. In addition, Noranda Mining and Exploration Incorporated (Bathurst Office), has established an award for the student presenting the best paper or poster in economic geology (or related field). This award consists of a field pack containing a silva compass, hammer, magnet, etc. and a contract summer position with Noranda, in Atlantic Canada. The awards are handed out to students that are registered in a BSc, MSc, or PhD program.

The Rupert MacNeill Award was presented to Michael Young, Dalhousie University, for his talk entitled "Minor folds and their relationship to regional fold evolution, central Meguma Terrane, Nova Scotia".

The Graham Williams Award was presented to Christie Dyble, Acadia University, for her poster entitled "A high resolution stratigraphic and petro-logical investigation of the Braeburn Member, Charlie Lake Formation, Peace River Arch, northwestern Alberta: reservoir implications".

The Noranda Award was presented to Ian DeWolfe, Acadia University, for his poster entitled "Structural and geometrical analysis of saddle reef folds at the mesothermal gold deposit, Port Dufferin, Halifax County, Nova Scotia: implications for future explora-tion and resource assessment".

Congratulations to all.
 
 

Distinguished Scientist Award (Gesner Medal)

The AGS gives the Distinguished Scientist Award (Gesner Medal) to a person who through his/her own efforts (i.e. maps, publications, memoirs, etc.) has developed and promoted the advancement of an aspect of geoscience in the Atlantic Region. The contribution of this person should be large enough scope to have made an impact beyond the immediate Atlantic Region. This year's award was presented to Dr. David Piper of the Geological Survey of Canada (Atlantic).

David Piper (l) receives hug and Distinguished Scientist Award (Gesner Medal) from Brendan Murphy.

David has an outstanding record of accomplishments in several fields. Although a sedimentologist by training, David is one of the rare true generalists, who can converse with ease in most subdisciplines of earth science. In the mid-late 1970s he was instrumental in the development and growth of Quaternary paleoclimatic and paleoceanographic studies in eastern Canada. He is world-renown for his contributions in the sedimentary architecture of the submarine fan systems and continental slopes. Consequently, his work has been invaluable to companies exploring for oil and natural gas along the eastern Canadian margin. David's multifaceted research is not restricted to surficial deposits. He has also made major contributions to deciphering the complex geological evolution of the Cobequid Highlands in Nova Scotia.

As an inspiration to others in initiating and completing original research, David has few equals. Firstly as Professor and Chairman of the then Department of Geology, Dalhousie University and secondly, as Head of the Environmental Marine Geology Subdivision of the Atlantic Geoscience Centre, he assembled and led inter-disciplinary groups to study deep water sedimen-tation and to develop the necessary technology. He has super-vised some outstanding students, many of whom are now innovative leaders of research projects.

David's productive research is con-firmed by his publication record. He has published over 100 papers in refereed scientific journals and has co-authored more than 20 chapters for books, special publications, and ODP proceedings. He was editor of the Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences for almost six years and he is now one of three editors of Marine Geology. He is an adjunct professor of two university departments and is presently super-vising several students. He has always been a proactive advocate of the Atlantic Geoscience Society and a constant attendee at the annual Colloquium. He is truly a deserving recipient of the Gesner Medal.

Distinguished Service Award

This year, the Distinguished Service Award of the Atlantic Geoscience Society was presented to Peter Wallace of Dalhousie University. This award is given in recognition of exceptional and altruistic contributions to the Society over a long period of time. Peter's association with the Society goes back to the early 1980s. Peter has held the positions of Councillor representing Dalhousie University, Program Chair, Vice President, President, Past President and member of the Education Committee and Products committees.

In 1998 Special Publication #14, a binder of field stops and geological information in the Atlantic Region, was published by AGS. Peter was the editor, compiler and main mover on this project which consumed a great deal of time. Peter showed the leader-ship and perseverance to complete this task. This field guide will help geo-scientists, teachers and the general public appreciate the geology of Atlantic Canada.

Peter's skills of organization, leader-ship and ability to work well with others have been a hallmark of his service to the Society. He has organized several Annual Colloquia and Symposia and has encouraged students to attend, present talks and display posters. The Society has benefitted from this student participation.

Peter's service to the Society spans nearly two decades. His work on behalf of the Society has ensured its well being, its mandate and its future. Peter Wallace is a most worthy recipient of the AGS Distinguished Service Award.

Peter Wallace of Dalhousie University receives the AGS Distinguished Service Award.
 
 
 

AGS 2000 awards recipients (l-r): Mike Young, Dalhousie University (Rupert MacNeill Award); David Piper, GSC Atlantic (Distinguished Scientist Award-Gesner Medal); Christie Dyble, Acadia University (Graham Williams Award); Gary Woods, presenter of the Noranda Award; Ian DeWolfe, Acadia University (Noranda Award); Chris White, AGS President.

Chris White, Past President, AGS

EESD MEETING IN FREDERICTON

The first EESD technical meeting held outside the framework of the annual GAC-MAC meetings was attended by a wide variety of geoscientists from central and eastern Canada. The meeting was held in conjunction with the annual Atlantic Geoscience Society Colloquium. Approximately 180 delegates attended the joint meeting, of which about 90 braved a major snow storm to attend the EESD events held the first day.

The title of the meeting "Current Environmental Research and Foci for the Next Century" accurately reflected the material presented. The topics of the presentations varied from foramini-feral research on the West Coast and Holocene change (T. Schell) to policy papers on New Brunswick water resources (D. Pupek), coastal zone environmental impact (D. Monahan), and coastal change along the eastern shore of Nova Scotia (G. Manson and D. Forbes). Geographical variety was evident with site-specific projects as the Fredericton Aquifer study

(K. Butler) and River Enhancement in Nova Scotia (I. Spooner). Regional overviews included talks on seismic assessment of the Great Lakes area

(J. Wallach) and avalanche hazards in Newfoundland and Labrador

(D. Liverman). Other talks included: hazard assessments for engineering activity in areas of potential earthquake events (B. Broster), seismic recurrence in eastern Canada (K. Burke), the use of Radarsat as a tool in terrain evaluation and monitoring

(T. Webster), the importance of mapping and archival geochemical survey data for environmental baseline assessments (T. Pronk), and environmental issues relating to sulphide reactivity (D. Fox) and enhanced groundwater flow in underground mine workings (A. Park).

Poster topics included: GIS mapping (D. Fox), geophysical techniques for aquifer mapping (J. Paasche,

T. Gilman and K. Butler), hurricane records in the Carolinas (D. Scott,

E. Collins, P. Gayes and E. Wright), landslide hazards in the Rockies

(A. Stumpf and B. Broster), and the biogeological structure of rusticles on the remains of the RMS Titanic

(J. McCarron, H. Mann and F. Thomas). Several of the papers in the general AGS sessions also reflected the focus of the EESD meeting.

The overall quality of research was excellent and student presentations were of a high calibre. Several of the presentations touched on policy and legal matters, and several common themes were repeated throughout the conference. These included: the use of geoscience for the service and greater well being of the population, in particular, the role of geoscientists in examining existing environmental regulations and land-use practice, and their contributions to the identification of hazards or other 'Earth' issues. On several occasions delegates empha-sized how important it is for the geo-science community to interact with other disciplines like environmental science, biology and regional planning and to make the general public more aware of the wealth of geoscience information available. While most of us were at times, "preaching to the converted", it was generally accepted that as geoscientists, we need to take our 'message' beyond the confines of our own organizations.

Congratulations go to the meeting chairs, Tom Al and Bruce Broster, and also to the larger AGS/EESD Organizing Committee on a well-attended and excellent joint EESD/ AGS meeting.

Toon Pronk, NBDNR

A FEW WORDS FROM THE PETROLEUM SIDE

These are certainly exciting days for the petroleum industry here in Atlantic Canada; Hibernia has been producing for some time now, Sable gas started flowing on New Year's Eve and Pan Canadian recently announced a major gas discovery on the Scotian Shelf.

This is also an exciting time for the onshore areas. In the Maritime Provinces, many of the Carboniferous basins have been licensed for oil and gas exploration. In Nova Scotia, North Star, Hunt, Amvest Nova Scotia and Consolidated Beacon Resources have taken licenses. Hunt is exploring in the vicinity of the Alton gas show and they drilled a well on that license block last summer. Consolidated Beacon is working in the Truro-Kemptown area, and westward along the Minas Shore. North Star has taken a very large posi-tion in Nova Scotia with blocks in the Windsor basin, the northern border of the Cobequid Highlands, the Antigonish basin and central Cape Breton Island around the Bras d'Or Lakes.

In Prince Edward Island there are three players: PEI Gas Company, AGREN and Corridor Resources Incorporated. In 1997, PEI Gas drilled a well at Spring Valley and Corridor drilled a well at Green Gables.

Several licence blocks have been taken in southern New Brunswick by Marico Oil and Gas, J.A. Seglund, RHT Enterprises and Corridor Resources Incorporated. Last summer, Columbia Natural Resources Canada farmed in on Marico, Seglund and Corridor. Drilling was completed in the Elgin area and the Moncton area with unsuccessful but very encouraging results. Seismic and drilling are planned for this coming field season.

A map showing the location of these licences is on the Corridor web site at www.corridor.ns.ca (click on the small licence map under Licence Areas).

Paul Durling, Corridor Resources

INTERNATIONAL GEOLOGICAL CORRELATION PROGRAMME

In 1972, a joint scientific research initiative between UNESCO and the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) was started under the name of International Geological Correlation Programme (IGCP). The primary aim of IGCP is to encourage geoscientists from around the world to formulate new approaches to earth science problems that deal with such topics as the discovery of mineral, groundwater and energy resources, mitigation of natural hazards, evalu-tion of human induced hazards, and so on. IGCP has defined clear scientific objectives on programs of global importance:

* improve living conditions by better understanding factors controlling the environment;

* develop more effective ways for locating, evaluating and sustainably managing natural resources;

* increase our understanding of geological processes and concepts;

* improve research capacities, techniques and methods including international collaboration; and

* promote multi-disciplinary coopera-tion within the UNESCO framework.

Ideas from geoscientists are put forward as formal proposals to the IGCP international board through the National Committee of each country. All successful proposals share certain features: scientific excellence, reliance on advanced methodology, contempo-rary societal relevance, as well as significant collaboration between developing and developed nations. Each project must be represented by at least one scientific leader who becomes responsible for annually reporting to the scientific board. Participating countries can nominate interested and qualified national leaders to represent and coordinate activities within projects in their own country. With an average life span of up to five years, IGCP projects succeed by reaching milestones associated with the general IGCP objectives. IGCP projects host regular international and national meetings, workshops, conferences, and field trips. Global participation is imperative.

The IGCP consists of a board of 16 scientists representing various disciplines and regions around the world, as well as the Director of the Earth Sciences Division of UNESCO and the President of the IUGS. Members of the board have limited terms and are appointed by the Director General of UNESCO to specific working groups consisting of: 1) stratigraphy, sedimentology and fossil fuels; 2) Quaternary, environ-ental and engineering sciences; 3) mineral deposits, petrology and geochemistry; and 4) geophysics, tectonics and structural geology.

The board annually meets in Paris to deal with a number of issues. New project proposals are evaluated, reports from ongoing projects are assessed, funding levels for projects are esta-blished, and broader issues such as the Constitution and comments from National Committees of IGCP are discussed. Active projects are graded annually by the board and are assigned funding from low (< US $4,000) to medium (US $6-7,000) to high (US $10,000) levels. Funding disbursed by the Scientific Board (circa US $250,000) comes from UNESCO and IUGS.

The programme provides seed money to approximately 40 active projects per year. This money is used by thousands of geoscientists from about 150 countries to participate in their respec-tive IGCP project. During 1999 the following projects with Canadian leaders were active:

No. 380 Biosedimentology of Microbial Build-ups (Brian Pratt)

No. 391 Groundwater and Sand Accumulations in the Sahara (Vern Singhroy)

No. 396 Continental Shelves in the Quaternary (Heiner Josenhans)

No. 406 Circum-Arctic Paleozoic Vertebrates (Mark Wilson)

No. 408 Rocks and Minerals at Great Depth and on the Surface (Robert Linnen)

No. 413 Understanding Future Dryland Changes from Past Dynamics (Dave Sauchyn)

No. 415 Glaciation and Reorgani-zation of Asia's Network of Drainage (Jim Teller)

No. 418 Kibarian Events in Southwest Africa (Toby Rivers)

No. 419 Foreland Basins of the Neoproterozoic Belts in Central to Southern Africa and South America (Pier Binda)

No. 420 Continental Growth in the Phanerozoic: Evidence from East-Central Asia (Mike Brookfield)

No. 425 Landslide Hazard Assessment and Cultural Heritage (Oldrich Hungr and Peter Bobrowsky)

No. 426 Granite Systems and Proterozoic Lithospheric Processes (Sandra Barr)

No. 427 Ore-Forming Processes in Dynamic Magmatic Systems (Mike Lesher and Sarah-Jane Barnes)

No. 428 Past Climatic Change Inferred from the Analysis of the Underground Temperature Field (Jacob Majorowicz, Trevor Lewis and Hugo Beltrami)

No. 429 Organics in Major Environmental Issues (Jim Baker)

No. 432 Contourites, Bottom Currents and Palaeocirculation (David. Piper)

No. 437 Coastal Environmental Change during Sea-Level Highstands (R.T. Patterson)

No. 440 Rodinia Assembly and Breakup (Tony Davidson)

No. 442 Raw Materials of Neolithic Artifacts (Victor Ownes)

The Canadian National Committee of IGCP (CNC-IGCP) consists of a Chair, the International Director of the Canadian Geoscience Council and six other board members who annually meet (teleconference in alternate years) to evaluate minor funding requests from Canadian participants in IGCP projects. Applicants request financial support to attend international confer-ences, sponsor meetings in Canada, or conduct other activities directly related to specific IGCP projects. A total of $18,000 (Canadian) is provided annually to CNC-IGCP by the Canadian Geoscience Council for disbursement. Individual grant amounts are set by CNC-IGCP depending on the total amount of requests received in any one year. Presently allocated grants range from $500 to $1100.

Professional geoscientists in Canada are encouraged to participate in active IGCP projects by directly contacting the Canadian leaders. New projects are continually being accepted by the IGCP Scientific Board, so regular contact with CNC-IGCP members should be maintained. For more information on IGCP and CNC-IGCP please contact Peter Bobrowsky, International Director-CGC, c/o BC Geological Survey Branch, P.O. Box 9320, Station Provincial Government, Victoria, BC, V8W 9N3. Tel: (250) 952-0395; Fax: (250) 952-0382; Email: peter.bobrowsky@gems7.gov.bc.ca

Sandra Barr, Acadia University

INTERNATIONAL UNION OF GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES

Did you know that since the inception of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) in 1961, three of its presidents have been Canadians, which is more than any other of the 110 member countries? Our most recent President and current Past President is Dr. Bill Fyfe (University of Western Ontario); previous Canadian presidents include Dr. Jim Harrison and Dr. Bill Hutchison. But what exactly is IUGS and how does Canada fit into this organization?

The IUGS is one of the largest, non-profit, apolitical, non-governmental organizations in the world dealing with earth sciences. IUGS and its many sister organizations, such as IUGG, all belong to ICSU (International Council for Science). Briefly, the purpose of the IUGS is to improve communication and positive action amongst the various earth science disciplines around the world. The organization promotes and encourages the study of earth science problems, primarily those with a global significance. To accomplish this rather broad mandate, the IUGS operates through any number of Commissions, Subcommissions, Working Groups and Joint Programs. It also relies considerably on the international activities of some three dozen affiliated bodies and organiza-tions. The IUGS has a permanent Secretariat based at the Geological Survey of Norway in Trondheim.

Every four years, the IUGS sponsors the scientific aspect of the International Geological Congress, but it also helps in the organization of sessions, workshops, field trips and other activities associated with the congress. The Council of IUGS, which consists of representatives from member countries, as well as adhering organizations as designated by statute, meet to maintain the business of the Union. In the year 2000, the 31^st International Geological Congress will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from August 6-17. Between congresses, the IUGS sponsors and promotes numer-ous other international, national and regional meetings, workshops and other activities.

The IUGS is managed by an elected Executive Committee, but topics which require long-term geoscience attention are the domain of Commissions and Subcommissions. Canadian geo-scientists are involved in all of the current Commissions and Sub-commissions as working scientists, but several individuals are presently active in executive roles: Dr. D. Francis (McGill University) is on the Commission on Igneous and Meta-morphic Petrogenesis, Dr. Benoit Beauchamp (GSC) is the Chair of the Commission on Global Sedimentary Geology, Dr. S.H. Williams (MUN) is Secretary of the ICS Subcommission on Ordovician Stratigraphy, Dr. A. Lenz (University of Western Ontario) is Secretary of the ICS Subcommission on Silurian Stratigraphy, Dr. F.P. Agterberg (GSC) is Chair of the ICS Committee on Quantitative Strati-graphy, and Dr. P. Bobrowsky (BSGS) is Secretary General of the Commission on Geological Sciences for Environmental Planning.

Working Groups are developed for those topics which require prompt action and less time than Commissions, and Canadians are involved in all of the five current Working Groups. Joint Programs are those sponsored by IUGS and other organizations such as UNESCO or IUGG. One such program is the International Geological Correlation Program (IGCP), spon-sored by the IUGS and UNESCO, and through the last few decades, hundreds of Canadian earth scientists have parti-cipated in IGCP projects.

As noted earlier, Canada is one of some 110 countries which belongs to and pays dues into the IUGS. Membership ranges from Level I to VIII depending on the financial well-being of the country. Level VIII countries such as Japan, Russia and the USA pay $28,000 US annually in dues. Canada is a Level VII member, as is China, Germany, Italy, France and the United Kingdom. Our annual dues of $14,000 US are paid through the Canadian National Committee of IUGS (CNC-IUGS) which operates under the umbrella and sponsorship of the Canadian Geoscience Council (CGC). Level of membership dictates the weighted voting power of a member country, but membership in IUGS is essential to ensure that Canadian geoscience is represented. In other words, CGC is the official adhering organization of Canada in the IUGS and it is represented by CNC-IUGS.

The CNC-IUGS consists of a Chair (the current International Director of the CGC), four members appointed by the CGC in consultation with Member Societies, three members appointed by the CGC in consultation with CNC- IUGS and three ex-officio members (GSC representative, CNC-IGCP secretary and Dr. Bill Fyfe as the Canadian member of the IUGS executive). The committee acts as the primary liaison in communicating Canadian geoscience accomplishments and concerns to the IUGS.

All of the activities of the IUGS, its Commissions, Subcommissions, Working Groups, Joint Programs and Affiliated Organizations are routinely summarized in the journal Episodes. Special publications such as mono- graphs and more recently an informa-tive web site (www.iugs.org) are also used to communicate accomplishments and activities of the IUGS. Most earth scientists in Canada belong to one or more professional organizations, and hence we all benefit from our direct and indirect relationship with the IUGS. Those individuals that are active in IGCP, routinely read Episodes, or visit the IUGS web site know that Canada's global influence and the international benefits which return back to Canada keep us on the leading edge of good geological science.

For more information regarding IUGS, CNC-IUGS or CNC-IGCP please contact Peter Bobrowsky, International Director-CGC, c/o BC Geological Survey Branch, PO Box 9320, Station Provincial Government, Victoria, BC, V8W 9N3. Tel: (250) 952-0395; Fax: (250) 952-0381; Email: peter.bobrowsky@gems7.gov.bc.ca

Sandra Barr, Acadia University

AGS/PGNS PHOTO CONTEST

Last Spring, Rob Fensome (GSC Atlantic) suggested that the AGS sponsor a competition within the Photographic Guild of Nova Scotia (PGNS) for geological images. AGS currently has a number of outreach projects (EarthNet, Last Billion Years) that benefit from good photographic images. So this proposal was made to boost AGS's library of images.

Both societies agreed in principle to the proposal, and Howard Donohoe (NSDNR) was appointed to represent AGS in discussions of the details of the collaboration. Subsequently, Howard and Rob met with Bob Deluca, President of PGNS, to iron out these details.

It was agreed that, under the auspices of AGS, a seminar would be given within the PGNS program on the topic of geology and photography. Howard and Rob presented this seminar in September. Also in September and under AGS auspices, a geological field trip was organized for interested PGNS members, led by Howard. The photo- graphs were taken to Chebucto Head, Portuguese Cove, Point Pleasant Park and Hartlen Point.

All this activity was in preparation for a formal AGS sponsored competition within the PGNS in April. The AGS sponsored competition would be initially for this year only, but could become an annual event if both parties desired. Those members of AGS wishing to discover more about PGNS should look at the website at: http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Recreation/PGNS/

The site also currently includes some geological images and discussion at: http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Recreation/PGNS/Geninfo/AGS_rules.html

Howard Donohoe, NSDNR

Rob Fensome, GSC Atlantic

ATLANTIC GEOLOGY

Atlantic Geology, the journal of the AGS, publishes papers of regional, national and international interest, including thematic issues. Persons or organizations interested in having their research or proceedings published in an issue of Atlantic Geology should contact Dr. Sandra Barr at Department of Geology, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, B0P 1XO. Tel: (902) 585-1340, Fax: (902) 585-1816; e-mail: sandra.barr@acidiau.ca.

DOUBLE CHECK YOUR BOOKMARK

The AGS website is located at: http://ags.earthsciences.dal.ca/ags.php
 

EARTHNET REBORN

A new and improved version of the EarthNet website has been released. The URL is: http://agc.bio.ns.ca/EarthNet

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