A Year Behind the Pages

As I write my final Editor’s Letter for the HGS Bulletin, I would like to begin with a sincere thank you to everyone who has made this publication possible over the past year.

To all the authors who contributed technical papers, featured articles, interviews, committee reports, updates, and images—thank you for generously sharing your time, expertise, and stories. Your contributions are what give this Bulletin its substance and relevance, and I am deeply grateful for the trust you placed in this platform.

I would also like to acknowledge the HGS Board for their continued support, guidance, and thoughtful feedback throughout my term. Their engagement has been invaluable in shaping each issue.

I am equally grateful to those who supported and shared my monthly LinkedIn posts promoting the Bulletin. That simple act of amplification made a meaningful difference in extending the reach of our content and connecting it with a broader audience.

Behind the scenes, the Bulletin is sustained by an extraordinary team whose work is often invisible but always essential. I would like to thank Andrea Peoples, our Office Manager, whose patience, dedication, and kindness we will truly miss as she moves on to her next chapter. I also extend my gratitude to Jeannette Kennedy for her superb work in coordinating advertisements with remarkable speed and efficiency, and to Lisa Krueger for her outstanding effort, care, and patience in putting each issue together.

I am also deeply appreciative of Ted Godo and Caroline Wachtman, whose leadership as previous editors set a strong foundation and continue to inspire the Bulletin’s direction today. Also, I am pleased to pass the torch to Sharma Dronamraju, Editor-elect, who has already contributed technical work and will undoubtedly bring his own vision and signature to the role.

Looking ahead, I encourage our community to continue submitting technical articles, feature stories, and updates. I also warmly encourage companies and independent contributors to consider advertising in the Bulletin and within HGS digital platforms more broadly: support that directly contributes to sustaining and strengthening our society,

This issue also features a special article, From the Editors, which explores my experience interviewing three editorial leaders across the geoscience community. It was an idea I first considered in my initial issue, but ultimately chose to reserve for this final edition. I wanted to approach it without bias, allowing time and experience to shape the perspective. I hope readers find their insights as meaningful and inspiring as I did.

Most importantly, I want to thank our readers. The Bulletin is nothing without its audience. Your engagement, curiosity, and support are what give this publication its purpose.

Finally, I would like to thank the HGS membership for giving me the opportunity to serve as Editor. It has been a true honor. The experience has been humbling, deeply rewarding, and full of learning—one I will carry with me long after this term ends. I hope you have enjoyed this final issue as much as I have enjoyed putting it together.

In this Issue of the Bulletin

·       Featured Article: From the Editors

A special feature titled From the Editors brings together reflections from three editorial leaders across major geoscience publications: Sergio Chávez-Pérez (GEOPHYSICS, Society of Exploration Geophysicists), Henk Kombrink (GeoExPro), and Daniel Minisini (AAPG Bulletin). The feature provides insight into their approaches to scientific communication, publishing, and editorial responsibility.

·       University of Houston Student Contributions

This issue showcases a collection of student abstracts from the University of Houston. These works were reviewed and judged by HGS members, highlighting the strong technical capability and enthusiasm of the next generation of geoscientists in the Houston area.

·       GeoPicks Special: Exploring Oman’s Ophiolite Window

In this month’s GeoPicks, Charles and Linda Sternbach take readers on a field-based journey through Oman, one of the world’s premier natural laboratories for ophiolite geology. Through personal experience and field observations, they highlight how Oman uniquely exposes sections of ancient oceanic crust, mantle rocks, and deep-marine sediments at the Earth’s surface.

·       Pivot Profile: Susan Judy’s Geological Thinking in Stone

We feature geologist-turned-artist Susan Judy, whose work transforms real rock and mineral slabs into geological mosaics that mirror how geoscientists interpret Earth materials. Built through careful cutting and layering, each piece reflects structure, texture, and deep-time narratives.

·       IBA 2026: Global Student Exploration Challenge

HGS Past Vice President Catie Donohue highlights the 2026 Imperial Barrel Award, an AAPG competition where students work with real subsurface datasets to build exploration skills. The program continues to expand beyond petroleum and has seen renewed in-person participation, with the Global Final set for Houston during IMAGE week.

·       We Are the HGS Special: Celebrating Andrea Peoples’ 12 Years of Service

We honor HGS Office Director Andrea Peoples for her 12 years of dedicated service. A constant behind-the-scenes presence, she has supported members, volunteers, and events with exceptional commitment. The feature follows her journey from Alaska to her central role in HGS, as she now prepares to begin a new chapter with her family’s business.