75th GCAGS/GCSSEPM Convention and Exposition
March 23–25, 2026 • Crowne Plaza Executive Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Hosted by the New Orleans, Lafayette, and Baton Rouge Geological Societies

 

Short Courses

Convention registration is NOT required to attend short courses.

 

Sponsored by the Willis School of Applied Geoscience (WSAG)

 

Short Course #1 - Recent Developments in Gulf of Mexico Salt Tectonics

Instructor: Mark G. Rowan, Rowan Consulting, Inc.
Date & Time: Monday, March 23, 2026, All Day
Cost: $175, including lunch
Location: Crowne Plaza Executive Center
Maximum: TBA

Bio: Mark is a structural geologist who worked in industry and academia before founding his own company specializing in training, consulting, and research on salt tectonics. Mark has authored over 130 papers, has been an AAPG Distinguished Lecturer and International Distinguished Instructor, is the recipient of the GCSSEPM Doris M. Curtis Medal, the AAPG Robert J. Berg Outstanding Research Award, and the GCAGS Outstanding Educator Award, and has been named an Honorary Member of the AAPG.

 

 

Course Description: This one-day short course is intended for those who want an update on aspects of salt tectonics relevant to the GoM. A familiarity with the basic concepts of salt movement, diapirism, and canopy development is assumed. Topics covered include: (i) the crustal architecture and evolution of the GoM; (ii) the age, distribution, and stratigraphy of the Louann salt; (iii) the triggers and drivers for salt movement in the Mesozoic; (iv) Cenozoic gravitational failure and associated extensional, contractional, and strike-slip deformation; (v) styles and distributions of feeder diapirs, canopies, and associated minibasins; and (vi) small-scale deformation adjacent to diapirs and beneath salt sheets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Short Course #2 - Quantitative Interpretation of Seismic Data for Rock/Fluid Properties

Instructor: John Castagna, University of Houston
Date & Time: Monday, March 23, 2026, All Day
Cost: $175, including lunch
Location: Crowne Plaza Executive Center
Maximum: TBA

Bio: John Castagna received his PhD in exploration geophysics in 1981 from the University of Texas at Austin. He has since worked in a variety of capacities including 16 years in exploration and research for a major oil company. For the past 30 years, he has held endowed chairs in academia. He currently holds the Sheriff Chair in Geophysics at the University of Houston and is partial owner of Lumina Geophysical where he advises on technical matters.

 

Course Description: This course discusses methods for determination of rock and fluid properties from poststack and prestack seismic data. Topics include (1) Fundamentals, (2) Seismic Attributes, (3) Spectral and Phase Decomposition, (4) AVO, (5) Seismic Inversion, and (6) AI and Machine Learning in Reservoir Characterization.

 

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Short Course #3 - Preparation for the ASBOG Fundamental and Professional Geoscientist Testing, and Ethics for Geoscientists

Instructor: William Schramm
Date & Time: Monday, March 23, 2026, Half Day
Cost: $65, including lunch
Location: Crowne Plaza Executive Center
Maximum: TBA

Bio: Mr. Schramm received a BA in geology from UWM and started his professional career on the geology staff at UWM, researching extraterrestrial geology. He then mined uranium in Wyoming for EXXON and mud logged for Schlumberger in Louisiana. He attended USL for his MS. He then joined the LDEQ as a geologist working with state and federal agencies, industry, consultants and private citizens to investigate and/or remediated over 3000 contaminated sites. He supervised a staff of 16 (Geologists and Remediation Specialists) in the Remediation Division and retired after 28 years. From 2005 to 2016 he was an Adjunct Instructor on the staff of the Department of Geosciences at ULL and served on numerous Graduate Thesis Committees. Governor John Bell Edwards appointed him to the Louisiana Board of Professional Geoscientists in 2018. He held the Treasurer and Chairman positions and now serves as Compliance Committee Chairman. He is a Subject Matter Expert for the National Association of State Boards of Geologists and a Senior Geologist with Losonsky and Associates.

Course Description: Multiple states, including Louisiana and Texas, require that everyone practicing geoscience, as defined by respective statutes, must be licensed. One of the requirements to obtain your license is passing both exams offered by the National Association of State Boards of Geology (ASBOG). This course will provide instructions on registering for the exams, a discussion of exam construction and validation, and scoring. As preparation for the exam, we will discuss how to study, options for additional subject matter instructions from ASBOG, and practice using actual exam questions provided by ASBOG.

In addition to discussion of the exams, I will also provide one Professional Development Hour of training on Professional Ethics for Geoscientists.