November 2002 Meeting Abstract

Geology, as with many professions, is client- or employer-driven and a passive source of information. While this view of the ethics and calling of geologists is consistent with the standard views of professional ethics, Dr. Hull will argue in this talk for a more proactive environmentalist approach to the profession, illustrating such a role with reference to the geology of water and specifically to the Ogalalla Aquifer.

Dr. Hull grew up in central Oklahoma, going on summer vacations with his family to the Eastern slope of the Colorado Rockies. His academic training is in philosophy, and for 30 years he served in the philosophy department of the State University of New York's University at Buffalo before taking early retirement in 1997 to pursue other interests. Author of over 100 articles, chapters and reviews, and editor of 7 books and three journal issues, he directed 15 doctoral dissertations before his retirement and won the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching. Since 1997, he has served as Executive Director of the Texas Council for the Humanities, visiting professor at Southwest Texas State University, professor emeritus and part-time faculty member at SUNYAB, Secretary/Treasurer of Agricultural Management Systems (an agricultural remote sensing company), and will serve as visiting distinguished professor at the University of Montana at Missoula during the Fall 2003 term. He lives in Clarence with his wife, Professor Elaine M. Hull of the Department of Psychology, SUNY University at Buffalo.

This month's speaker and topic deviates from the usual technical nature of our meetings. I invite you to come and listen to Dr. Hull's presentation and maybe debate with him on the subject of ethics in scientific/consulting investigations.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Lea Cervi

Executive VP