Birchwood Tells Geologists Not To Limit Horizons
Mr. Ken Birchwood, General Manager of Trinmar Ltd. and 1st President of the Geological Society
of Trinidad and Tobago delivered the feature address at the GSTT Ninth Annual Dinner and Dance at the Trinidad
Hilton on Saturday October 12, 1985. He told geologists not to limit their horizons and they should not relegate
themselves "merely to live in the shadow of the illustrious pioneers of Trinidad and Tobago geology."
The following is the full text of his address:-
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is with much pleasure and I must confess a certain element of pride that I stand to address
you here tonight. The pleasure comes from what I consider a wonderful opportunity to perhaps provide some stimulus
to a group of people whose profession, and most of whom, play so vital a role in the fortunes of this country.
The pride is born out of the small part I played at the very beginning of this Society nine years ago, and the
tremendous strides I have observed it make since then; strides that have been made possible by the many dedicated
members who have carried the torch, or should I say hammer, during that period.
Indeed in my opinion some of the most encouraging things during the life of the Society has been the enthusiasm
of the membership, the dynamism of its planning and executed by its planning and executive teams, and I speak as
one who has been an outside observer for about 90% of the time.
I have watched not only the growth of the Society as an organisation but I have also seen the growth of so many
of its members both professionally and as individuals, a growth that has come about as a result of people responding
to challenges and growing as a result of extending themselves.
I think that it would be appropriate for a few minutes to examine the goals that your Society set itself nine years
ago and to look at your record relative to these goals.
I think that no one can deny that your first goal to increase the general level of Geological knowledge among its
members by the presentation of technical papers, the holding of technical fora and short courses, the arrangement
of lectures by visiting or distinguished lecturers in conjunction with international geological societies has been
admirably achieved. You have successfully organised at least two major international geological conferences, promoted
numerous short courses and technical paper presentations, and several field trips to important geological sites
in Trinidad and Tobago. The result has been increased geological knowledge among your members, greater professionalism,
and growing self-confidence in their ability to meet and solve our local geological problems.
Your second aim has been to increase the awareness of the general public of the importance and role of Geologists
and geology in this country". Again much has been fulfilled in this area, by way of the media and exhibitions.
And finally, your third goal "to provide career guidance for students throughout the country". Perhaps
your
performance in this area can best be summed-up by stating in the circumlocutory fashion of Dickens, that it
would be stretching the bonds of credibility to say that your lectures in several secondary schools in Trinidad,
and the large number of people who have become Geologists in the past few years, are entirely unconnected.
What I am saying is that your Society has acquitted itself admirably during its short life. It has displayed verve
and vigour, it has proven itself worthy of its own goals and has provided professional sustenance for its member
ship. As a body you ought to be proud.
But have you done it all? Should you now rest on your oars and merely drift on the river of progress? The business
of living is a continuous process and rest is achieved only when death overtakes us. Your Society is young and
even though much has been done, much remains to be done and if you are to attain ever increasing heights, constant
effort will be necessary. There is nothing that will more rapidly spell the demise of your Society than to assume
the smugness of self-satisfaction that can so easily follow the attainment of a few goals.
New fields are always there to be conquered and one must be forever honing one's skills to overcome them.
I speak of your Society as being young, but it has been born in a country with a long history in the practice of
geology, a country, as some people say, that's famous as the graveyard of geological reputations, but to me is
perhaps more famous as one where many international reputations have been made or enhanced.
Many Earth Scientists whose local practice preceded your Society made or enhanced their reputations in Trinidad.
Through their original studies and they not only brought themselves significant professional recognition, and expanded
fundamental geological knowledge, but they also gave Trinidad international geological eminence beyond its geographic
size.
Your Society therefore was spawned in an environment of achievement and your members have no shortage of eminent
role models from whom to take pattern.
But have all your famous predecessors said the last word on our local geology? Have all their theories and interpretations
stood the test of time? Have not, or cannot modern knowledge and tools provide new insight and new interpretations
of old problems; and have not or could not these insights lead to major economic benefit to your companies and
the country?
Have all our geologic resources been fully identified and assessed? Where our geologic resources are being developed
outside of the oil industry, is it being done with proper earth science advice?
Should we accept that no new prospects for major oil discoveries remain on land or for that matter offshore? And
that our petroleum future will be almost entirely centered on gas?
Should you, the members of the Geological Society, accept boundaries established by your predecessors?
Should you consciously limit your horizons, put rein on your imagination and relegate yourself merely to live in
the shadow of the illustrious pioneers of Trinidad and Tobago geology; to mark time, as it were, in well-worn tracks?
Are there, in this country, no more major earth science problems begging for solution, and large mineral resources
waiting to be developed? Are you in narrow-lane, dead-end jobs?
If your members believe that all the major work has been done. If they think that our oil production is from now
on a generally declining curve. If they are convinced that their best professi6nal efforts will forever bring at
most only minor success, then they are in narrow-lane, dead-end jobs created by themselves, and your Society, the
Companies at which your members work, and the country are already in decline.
I do not believe that your predecessors have done it all, and that there are no big challenges remaining, and I
do not think that there are no more major oilfields to be discovered. And it is counter to all scientific history
that great and sustained scientific effort results in, at best, only minor advance.
The members of the Geological Society of Trinidad and Tobago are, perhaps like no other professionals in this country,
invested with a responsibility beyond the confines of their profession. The mantle of the economic well being of
this country (OPEC aside) rests heavily on their shoulders. Their successful efforts expand our natural wealth
considerably. It is important, therefore, that modest though many of your members may be that they recognise their
high importance to Trinidad and Tobago, and let that view of themselves temper their many actions with the required
gravity.
As a Society that was born in the heady days of the mid-70's, and is now strong and vibrant, and one that has achieved
its original aims, I would suggest that the time has come particularly in the changed circumstances of today to
enlarge upon these original aims, to chart a course consistent with our current times.
In the Sunday Magazine of the Guardian of October 6, I noted plans of your new executive particularly as they pertain
to research, library and museum facilities. I think that the plans are excellent, but perhaps with the importunity
that may be excused by age, I make bold to suggest the following to you collectively as an organisation and individually.
1.Let the highest standards of professionalism be your on-going ambition, a professionalism that moves with the
times. For example, computers have become so much part of every science that all earth scientists in a country
where earth re sources are so crucial to the general welfare much depends on you. Therefore equip yourselves to
handle the onerous and vital responsibility that is yours.
2. By your work make yourselves worthy successors of the Kuglers, Renzs, Bollis, Stainforths and eminent others
who have passed this way. You are now carrying the torch. Set out to make it burn brighter. You be today's pioneers
and original thinkers. Don't sell yourselves short. Don't be so much in awe of others that you rule out your ability
to soar to great heights.
3. While accepting that a lot of excellent work has been done by others keep an open mind about
past theories and interpretations and continuously examine them critically. The Geological Sciences are continually
advancing. Yesterday's axiom may be today's anathema.
4. Promote your science even more vigorously so that its acceptance, particularly outside of the
oil industry will increase.
5 See yourselves in the larger context-economic, political, etc., in which you operate. It will ensure relevance
of your best efforts. Energy misdirected, no matter how great, is energy lost.
6. Nothing will be achieved without hope and optimism. Let these two ingredients be constantly associated with
your best scientific efforts and I repeat best scientific efforts.
My aim in putting out the above suggestions is hopefully to give the Society and its membership some food for thought,
a greater sense of mission and an enlarged view of itself.
A ninth anniversary is perhaps not as signal a time as say a tenth or twentieth, but I do believe that anniversaries
if they are worthy of being noted are worthy of making significant changes in our lives.
I would be happy if some of my words succeeded in charting an even more purposeful course for the Society and imbued
its membership with a truer and greater sense of its worth, capabilities and responsibilities. Your members have
been blessed with much and much is expected of them.
To the new executive, my congratulations. Go forth till the fertile soil of your membership.
I thank you.
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