Grey Areas: Interactive Application of Business Ethics in the Geoscience Profession
Most large oil companies require their employees to have yearly ethics training which is often broad and dry. Texas State licensees are also required to have one hour of ethics training every year; this talk will fulfill that requirement. Although I do not have a degree in philosophy or jurisprudence, I have been an international explorationist for 35 years and therefore I am aware of many situations where individual or business ethics were tested. I have been giving ethics lectures in the Houston area for several years. Three years ago, I gave a lecture introducing the theory of philosophical ethics and explored the difference between moral compass and ethics and how this relates to business ethics. Two years ago we reviewed this model and then applied it to our industry with LIVE feedback from the audience via polling technology. This year I plan to have a very brief review of the Business Ethics Model, a review of the AAPG ethics/code of conduct and focus heavily on examples where your business ethics are tested. I need to hear from YOU to make this experience more meaningful! Please submit ethics examples you have encountered in your career to me at (John.Jordan.DPA@gmail.com) to be considered for use in the lecture. Examples will be anonymous, and the situation will be modified, but the issue will be the same as submitted. Using the examples, the audience will provide immediate digital feedback while we discuss Business Ethics focusing on making sound, consistent and ethical decisions. Come and join this entertaining and spirited discussion about the “grey areas” and make sure to bring a phone that is capable of texting. AAPG will provide all participants with an Education certificate.
Biographical Sketch
John E Jordan, Jr. is the 2019/2020 President of the AAPG Division of Professional Affaires (DPA), Past President of the Houston Geological Society (HGS) and a licensed geoscientist in Texas. He is a retired Project Geophysical Advisor who has worked for several Fortune 500 oil companies in California and Texas. Prior to joining Anadarko in 2007, he worked at Kerr McGee, Noble Energy, Arco and Chevron. During 30+ years in the oil industry, he has worked deep-water and onshore projects from Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico to the Middle East, Asia, Africa and South America. John is a graduate of Wright State University where he received both a BSc and an MSc from the College of Science and Mathematics majoring in geology and geophysics. He does not hold degrees in philosophy or jurisprudence but enjoys lively debate on most any subject.