November 2009 issue
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Student Column
Namesake Strives To Live Up To Percival Warren
BY DALE R. NISBET
Student Columnist
University of Alberta, Geosciences
Editor’s Note: Dale R. Nisbet is currently in his fifth year in geology. This is his fourth year as a member of the P.S. Warren Geological Society and his third year on its executive.
“In my second year as a PSW member I had the privilege of being president of the society. Last year I retired to the social side and I am now back in the position of president,” he told The PEGG. “As president I will responsible for organizing and coordinating society meetings, representing the student body on the APEGGA Student Liaison Committee, and involving myself in most aspects of the society’s social and academic events.”
The P.S. Warren Society is the student geology society at the University of Alberta. Comprising undergraduate and graduate students, as well as professors, it runs academic and social programs to enrich the university experience if its members.
The club is named after Dr. Percival Sidney Warren (1890-1970). Dr. Warren was not only a student of the geological sciences but a true patriot and a mentor to those around him. A man whose education was interrupted by the both world wars, in which he was a lieutenant colonel, Mr. Warren went on to become a revered professor at the U of A.
Part of the geology faculty for over 50 years, Dr. Warren did work in stratigraphy that laid the foundation for oil exploration in Alberta.
The P.S Warren Society was initiated in 1962 with a roster of 34 members, Dr. Warren included. Since its inception, PSW has been expanding and strengthening the bonds of geology students. With club registration wrapped up for this year — with an outstanding 130-plus head count — the enrolled members have an amazing year ahead of them.
The 14 students on the governing executive have already begun to map out the year of activities, including student/industry mixers, society parties, sports teams and student field trips. Meeting once a week in the society common room, the executive is made up of a vice-president internal, a vice-president external, a secretary, a treasurer, male and female sports representatives, second- and third-year representatives, an environmental representative, and two decidedly rowdy social conveners.
We work to develop an inviting and exciting club atmosphere. Our overall goal, through extracurricular activities and programs, is to encourage students to become active within their undergraduate community.
All Laced Up
Both the men’s and women’s hockey teams have hit the ice and chalked up noteworthy performances in their first games. The men’s team is stronger than ever, blowing out the agricultural club in a 13-1 victory and aiming for a perfect championship season in men’s Division 3 intramural hockey.
Halloween preparations were made to get students out to enjoy the festivities and enter into the annual Halloween Howler Costume Competition. With some creativity and a sharp wit, we hoped to see some costumes that outdo the likes of the pyrite cube and electron cloud from last year.
Meetings with the APEGGA Student Liaison Committee have already begun, with ideas and possibilities for potential events and functions taking shape. A strong focus of the committee for this school year is to initiate inter-faculty events and mixers between the representative clubs, bringing students from the geology, geophysics and engineering faculties together.
Under the guidance of the committee, we aim to create relationships early in students’ careers, establishing networks and increasing cohesiveness, as these students move towards entering the professional world. With changes to APEGGA licensure of geoscientists coming, the PSW will keep students informed and connected, to help them make a smooth transition from student to professional.
More Info
P.S. Warren Society
Email psw@ualberta.ca
http://cms.eas.ualberta.ca/psw/