Phil Pearthree to complete his time as Arizona State Geologist

Philip A. Pearthree, Ph.D. will retire as Director of the Arizona Geological Survey in July 2026, having held the position since 2016 as successor to Lee Allison. The position has been advertised. Phil received his B.S. at Oberlin College, and M.S. and Ph.D. at the University of Arizona. He joined AZGS in 1988 and was chief of the Environmental Geology section for more than a decade. Phil is a Kirk Bryan Award co-winner, and authored or co-authored more than 100 geologic reports and maps in nearly four decades with the Survey. Phil was AASG Treasurer from 2020 to 2023. Well done, Phil!

State Geologist of Louisiana, Greg Upton

Dr. Gregory B. Upton is Acting Director of the Louisiana Geological Survey. Greg’s expertise is in energy and environmental economics, mainly oil and gas markets, and energy transition in Louisiana. Dr. Upton holds a B.S., M.A., and Ph.D., the latter in 2014, in Economics from Louisiana State University. Welcome, Greg!

Utah Geological Survey ROI

The Utah Geological Survey (UGS) is Utah’s “go-to” source for all geologic resources information. The data we collect has a wide variety of uses across entities ranging from all types of private industry to local, state, and federal government. Our research often forms the basis for important activity that drives the current and future economy of the state. As such, the information and data that we make readily accessible add significant value to the prosperity of the state of Utah, our industry, and our citizens. In this article, we provide insights from recent efforts to assess the value of geological data provided by state geological surveys.

Ohio launches new interactive geology map

The Ohio Geological Survey has launched a refreshed version of the Ohio Geology Interactive Map (OGIM). The update features new search and visualization tools, an improved user interface, and enhanced accessibility considerations. The application serves as the primary platform for public access to geological observations and inferences in the state. Included are well logs, aquifer details, and potentiometric surfaces, as well as earthquake epicenters, seismic stations, coastal erosion, aggregate extent and thickness, and groundwater vulnerability. The update is emblematic of the Survey’s commitment to fully up-to-date public service that is in tune with the needs and capabilities of the late 2020s. Well done!