The Minnesota Section of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) is pleased to announce our 2026 Student Grant and FG Grant Winners:

$1,500 Student Grant Winners!

• Penelope Miranowski, University of Minnesota - Duluth
• Catherine Stacy, Macalester College

$300 FG Grant Winner!

• Tasneem Basri Neem, University of Minnesota - Duluth

Congratulations to our 2026 Student Grant and FG Grant Winners!

We look forward to our upcoming golf scramble and bicycle ride fundraiser on Monday, July 27th to continue raising money to support geoscience students and geoscience education in Minnesota!

Come learn about PFAS essentials, PFAS remediation, and vapor intrusion in this hands-on training session from REGENESIS and Eurofins!

Join us for an in-person training on PFAS Essentials, PFAS Remediation and Vapor Intrusion in Bloomington, MN. You will gain real-time insights into current PFAS regulations and the state of the science for testing and remedial technologies, along with current strategies for addressing vapor intrusion. Lunch will be provided. Sign up here.

The training will take place Thursday, July 16, 2026 at 9:00am - 2:00pm. Cost: $20 per attendee.

Location: 7900 International Dr suite 300, Bloomington, MN 55425

Space is limited, and with our last five PFAS training events selling out, early registration is strongly recommended.

Government employees, environmental regulators and non-profit organizations are eligible to attend at no cost. To access your complimentary registration, please enter the promo code: PFASTraining during checkout.

Part 1: Mastering PFAS Essentials: Regulations, Test Methods, & Forensics

1. The State of PFAS Regulations and Legislation *includes hot off the press, real time updates!
2. Data Usability Considerations, including a discussion of methods
3. PFAS in complex matrices, e.g. air, biosolids, products, etc.
4. How PFAS data can be used in a forensic application

Part 2: In Situ PFAS Remediation Using Colloidal Activated Carbon

1. PFAS Risk Elimination
2. The limitations of Pump and Treat for PFAS
3. Designing PFAS remediation approaches using colloidal activated carbon
4. Costs of PFAS remediation on actual projects

Part 3: Contaminant Vapor Intrusion Testing and Mitigation Methods

1. Contaminant vapor intrusion and indoor air quality
2. The use of barrier technologies as vapor mitigation tools
3. Minimizing risk and long-term protection
4. Soil gas testing tools

The Minnesota & Wisconsin Sections of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) have funding for additional grants for both AIPG Student members and Early Career Professional (ECP) members for the AIPG Annual Conference that will be held in Duluth from August 29-September 2, 2026. Conference details are available online: https://aipg.org/page/2026NationalConference

AIPG Student membership is free. AIPG ECP membership is free the first year and then $77.50 (+ Section dues) per year. Full membership information and applications are available online: https://aipg.org/page/MembershipCategoriesandRequirements

If you are selected for a grant, we will work with you on registration. 

The application form is available online: https://aipgmn.org/survey.php?id=29 

Questions may be directed to [email protected]

Resources for Professional Ethics Talks & Information

The Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience, and Interior Design (MN Board of AELSLAGID) reminds those renewing their licenses and who have not yet earned all their Continuing Education (CE) credits for the period of July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2024 (or prior to when you apply to renew, whichever is first) that CE credits may by earned via remote learning, as well as in-person. Televised or videotaped courses, webinars, and other self-study courses, and distance-learning college courses are among the many CE formats available.

As with all other continuing education activities, it is up to licensees/certificate holders to use their judgment to determine whether a particular course or activity meets the statutory requirements for continuing education.

Geoscience Online Learning Initiative Talks

The Geoscience Online Learning Initiative (GOLI) by the American Geosciences Institute, started in cooperation with AIPG, provides a platform for on-demand, life-long learning and continuing education opportunities in the geosciences. These courses are free for AIPG members! GOLI on-demand online courses provide learners with the flexibility to self-pace their progress, since on-demand courses do not have a set schedule like traditional academic semester-based courses. Brought to you via the OpenedX Learning Management System (LMS), learners are able to browse course descriptions, enroll in specific courses, access content, and complete any course completely free of charge. All learners who complete online courses offered through the GOLI platform with a passing grade of 70% or higher are eligible to purchase Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for a nominal charge. Please note that 0.10 CEU is generally equal to 1 professional development hour (PDH).

GOLI Courses related to ethics

• Fundamentals of Professional Ethics: Elements and Examples
• Unconscious Bias: Perspectives from the Private Sector
• The Development of Geoscience-related Ethics Codes 
  
• Geoethics in the Field: Integrating Ethical Principles into Geoscience Fieldwork Practices
• Professionalism and Geoethics: Creating a Workplace Environment Where Everyone Can Succeed

Code of Ethics

The AIPG Code of Ethics is available on the AIPG National website: https://aipg.org/page/Ethics.

Ethics Articles in The Professional Geologist

AIPG has provided a table, Professional Ethics and Practices Topical Index, to help search for relevant articles in past issues of The Professional Geologist: https://aipg.org/resource/resmgr/documents/ethics/pe&p_index_4th_qtr_2020.xlsx.

Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists Ethics Talks

The Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) has produced ethics talks that are available on their website: https://tbpg.state.tx.us/tbpg-ethics-video/. The TBPG would like to thank Ms Becky Johnson, PG, TBPG Chair, for the updated ethics video. Please note this video and the information provided therein are the personal property of Becky Johnson, PG.

Other interesting GOLI courses 

The full list of GOLI courses: http://www.americangeosciences.org/workforce/goli

• Water as One Resource
• Well Logs and Log Analysis for New Hires
• Introduction to Forensic Geology - Petrography
• Balancing Well Water Supplies to Mitigate Drought Impacts
• An Introduction to Professional Writing for Geoscience Careers
• Tracking Global Supply Critical Materials
• Basics of Seismic Petroleum Exploration for New Hires
• Best Practices in Mineral Resource Estimation & Reporting
• Professional Geologist Licensure Requirements and the ASBOG National Geology License Examinations
• Understanding Professional Geologist License Requirements: California 2019

The Minnesota Section of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG MN) is looking for members to volunteer for various committees.

1. We are looking for a Certified Professional Geologist member to chair the Screening Committee. The Chair of the Screening Committee's duties are to assist in evaluating the qualifications and credentials of applicants. Further details can be found in the Minnesota Section of AIPG Bylaws, Section 5.2.
2. We are looking for members to join the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee is responsible for identifying and obtaining commitments from members to run for officer positions.  Further details can be found in the Minnesota Section of AIPG Bylaws, Section 5.3. All four officer positions (President-Elect, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary) are up for election in autumn 2022.
3. We are looking for members to join the Social Sub-Committee. The Social Sub-Committee plans the socials and other non-technical gatherings.
4. Other committee members.  We are always looking for volunteers to join our other committees.  A list of Section Leadership and Committees is kept on our website at https://aipgmn.org/board.php.

If you're interested in volunteering, please email us at [email protected] or consider joining our next Executive Committee Meeting to express your interests: https://aipgmn.org/meetinginfo.php.

Shanna Schmitt, CPG-11781

2023 AIPG National President-Elect/2024 National President

Congratulations to Shanna Schmitt, CPG-11781 for being elected as the 2023 AIPG National President-Elect/2024 National President! The Minnesota Section of AIPG is lucky to have Shanna as a leader and we are proud of her latest accomplishment. Shanna represents the best of what support for a local professional organization looks like – dedicated, hardworking, positive, passionate about our profession, always ready to take on new tasks, supportive of all the section activities, and always fun to be around!  She naturally draws others into our section and draws all of us to do more to support the important work of the section. We look forward to Shanna continuing to make a positive impact within AIPG and the professional geosciences community and we are excited to follow her leadership within AIPG at the National level!

Shanna attended the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities and earned her B.S. degree in Geology in 2003. After graduation, Shanna began her career as a field geologist at Terracon where field work and data analysis formed a well-rounded basis for her future endeavors. Since 2006, she has worked at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) as a Hydrogeologist, where her work has focused on the cleanup and redevelopment of Brownfield and Superfund sites. Shanna’s involvement and management of these projects includes technical reviews, timeline and budget management, technical guidance and policy writing, and collaboration with geoscientists and others to find practical and sustainable solutions.

Shanna’s AIPG Activities and Awards Include:

• Minnesota Section Student Support Sub-Committee Chair 2017-present

• Minnesota Section Webmaster 2015-present

• National Executive Committee - Advisory Board Member 2016, 2019, 2020

• Inter-Society Liaison - GSA Professional Development Committee 2017-2020

• Presidential Certificate of Merit 2018

• Section Leadership Award 2018

• Minnesota Section President 2016

• Minnesota Section Secretary/Treasurer 2011-2014

Let’s work to support Shanna in accomplishing her goals for AIPG as National President-Elect and President which include: growing membership; supporting members at every state of their careers; advocating for professional geoscientists in industry, the regulatory community, academia, state geological surveys, and wherever geoscientist are needed to promote a sustainable standard of living. Congratulations to Shanna!

Outcry demanding justice for Black people was renewed here, in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25, 2020 with the killing of George Floyd. Individuals, companies, government, and even institutions like the Minnesota Section of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) are evaluating how their groups can affect positive change in how Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) are treated by society. AIPG is a professional organization based on competence, integrity, and ethics. The Minnesota Section of AIPG believes these core values prohibit racism and prejudice. Our continuing obligation as a professional organization is to ensure we conduct our business, advocacy, and outreach in a manner that is anti-racist and inclusive.

The geosciences are not as diverse as other sciences (Dutt 2020; Goldberg 2019). The Minnesota Section of AIPG's Executive Committee invite our section members to challenge themselves to truly become more welcoming, anti-racist, and inclusive so that we, as geoscientists and Professional Geologists, can continue to promote the public welfare of all Minnesotans. With this in mind, we welcome your feedback and dialogue so that we may actively improve our organization and this profession.

We have started a collection of articles and books featuring the topic of Racial Justice & Geology, including the two referenced articles, available at https://aipgmn.org/Racial_Justice_and_Geology_Resources. Please send us additional resources to share!

1. Dutt, Kueli. Race and Racism in the Geosciences. Nature Geoscience, vol. 13, 2020, pp. 2-3. Available online at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-019-0519-z. This article uses data collected by the American Geosciences Institute (AGI), of which AIPG is a member organization, in their 2016 Status of the Geoscience Workforce publication. The newer 2018 Status of the Geoscience Workforce publication was released in March 2020: https://www.americangeosciences.org/news/agi-publishes-2018-status-geoscience-workforce-report

2. Goldberg, Emma. Earth Science has a Whiteness Problem. New York Times, Dec. 23, 2019. Available online at https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/23/science/earth-science-diversity-education.html.

The Minnesota Section of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG MN) donated $500 towards the cost of a mock dig site for the Rosemount High School!

Teacher Joe Christman at Rosemount High School created a new science elective class, which revolves around dinosaur paleontology!  In his request, he said, "An important part of paleontology is doing research in the field and I felt as though this was an important aspect of the science students should experience.  Understanding field research can give students skills in organization, attention to detail, spatial reasoning, and interpretation of data."  
    
In order to give students a dig experience, Joe built a mock dig site on campus.  This includes a 20x20 foot area filled in with sand and gravel.  Replicas of dinosaur fossils will be placed in a matrix of sand and wax.  Students will be using geologic rock hammers, chisels, and other field equipment to record, analyze, and excavate the fossils.  The cost of the project was about $3,000.
    
Joe stated, "Science is about curiosity, evaluation, and putting pieces of evidence together.  This is a unique experience for students; however, it is a necessary one.  It is an experience that will illuminate and inspire students to consider a career path in science." 

To view more pictures of the completed project taken in late August, please click here.

Many geoscientists interest in the geosciences began with dinosaurs as children, so what a great way to get young students interested in the geosciences!

Your donations to the AIPG MN Education Fund and participation in the annual Golf Scramble & Fundraiser make donations like this possible.  Thank you everyone!

AIPG Minnesota Section,

We are looking for ‘testimonials’ on how people have used the county geologic atlases. We occasionally get requests to give presentations on the topic – “Just what are the County Geologic Atlas good for?” We also routinely get asked by legislators to provide examples at the local level of how they are used, and even what the economic advantages to having a county atlas are.

We know the CGA is used by a wide variety of stakeholders for many different applications and their availability often results in time and money savings on projects (high capacity wells, groundwater modeling, landfill siting, DOT uses them in structure work, counties use them for many zoning applications, and many more).

We are particularly interested to know about specific projects, but also find value in understanding in a more general sense the types of projects you use them for. Here are a couple shortened examples we have received:

Jim de Lambert, Senior Hydrogeologist, Carlson McCain, Inc: “For most projects the initial information sources include the County Geologic Atlas. For Minnesota well siting projects, the County Atlas Series will be my first source of information to help define the project area and to give the area broad hydrogeologic context. This assists in identifying potential target aquifer(s). If the supplier is a Rural Water System, there is often considerable flexibility with well field location and this type of county and regional information can be invaluable.”

Heather Cunningham, Zoning and Environmental Services Administrator, Carlton County: “I would say that I use the atlas on a monthly basis. In the last 6 months, I have used it for the review of an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW), pollution sensitivity for a proposed mixed use development, groundwater contamination at our closed landfill, and in working with a lake association.”

Kristi Anderson, Hydrogeologist, Northwest AqwaTek Solutions: “The majority of what I do is working with the agricultural community for crop irrigation systems; I typically look to the County Geologic Atlas (CGA)….as the starting point for my work.”

Joe Hudak, Assistant Engineering Geologist, Minnesota Department of Transportation: “We typically use the county atlases for subsurface information prior to conducting any geophysical field work or drill rig borings/CPT soundings.”

Martin Larsen, Olmsted County Feedlot Technician, Landowner & Farmer, Olmsted County: “The County Geologic Atlas is an important tool for the Olmsted Soil and Water Conservation District. It is used for animal feedlot permitting and nutrient management planning to locate sinkholes, depth to bedrock and first encountered bedrock. The springshed maps included in some Part B atlases are utilized for local education and outreach.”

If you have specific application examples that you could share it would be especially useful. Or, if you have any leads of others who might use the CGAs, we would be interested in getting those contacts so that we could learn more.

We are also very interested to get your ideas about how we can improve the end-product. Maybe there is a way we can make the CGA more valuable to you.

Thank-you for your help.
Barb Lusardi, Associate Director, Minnesota Geological Survey, [email protected]
Paul Putzier, Supervisor DNR County Geologic Atlas Program, [email protected]

Students from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences recently formed an AIPG Student Chapter.  Thier bylaws were signed on 03/09/2018, and AIPG Headquarters recognized them on 04/17/2018. Congratulations!

Nathan Gruman, PG, CPG is the AIPG MN Section liason with the University of Minnesota Twin Cities AIPG Student Chapter.

Students from the University of St. Thomas Geology Department recently formed an AIPG Student Chapter.  Thier bylaws were signed on 02/13/2015, and AIPG Headquarters recognized them on 03/30/2015. Congratulations!

Sara Nelson of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is the AIPG MN Section liason with the University of St. Thomas AIPG Student Chapter.