Great Bear promotes Alaska GeoFORCE

The Alaska GeoFORCE program, sponsored by companies in the Alaska oil industry and founded in April 2011 by Great Bear Petroleum and Shell among others, has seen its first academy of ninth grade school students participating in the program, Ed Duncan, president of Great Bear, told the Alaska Geological Society on Dec. 13. Students from North Slope villages have been participating, Duncan said.

The program provides outreach to high school students who may be interested in a geoscience career. Participants go on geology field trips and receive mentoring from professional geologists.

The program particularly targets kids who might not otherwise consider going to college or university, to have them think about doing so, particularly in terms of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, Duncan said.

“It’s a geoscience oriented program … that’s about enabling kids to better themselves,” he said.

—Alan Bailey