RMAG Member Corner

MEMBER CORNER

Meet Cam Uribe Geologist, PhD – SM Energy WHAT IS THE MOST REWARDING PART OF YOUR JOB?

HOW DID YOU END UP INVOLVED IN GEOSCIENCES?

The most rewarding part of my job is to be challenged to try to integrate different datasets (core analysis, log responses, geochemistry, etc.) and capture the complexity of the rocks in the reservoirs. Likewise, to develop a deep understanding and expertise of the subsurface to support process such as planning, drilling, and completion of wells.

My passion for geosciences started when I

was a kid. I grew up in a small village (Belencito, Boyacá) in the countryside of Colombia, where the main economic activity was mining. You

could say that I basically lived in the mountains surrounded by coal, iron, and limestone mines.

Therefore, when I finished high school, I knew

that I wanted to study rocks. In 2009 I moved to

WHAT IS THE BEST CAREER LESSON YOU HAVE LEARNED SO FAR?

Medellin city to pursued a BS in Geology at EAFIT University, and in 2015 I was granted a scholar-

No job is worth staying at if you cannot be who you really are. You must feel safe and comfortable in your workplace in order to be happy and productive.

ship from the Colombian Department of Science

and Technology to conduct a PhD degree in geology at New Mexico Tech, USA.

WHAT IS THE GREATEST RISK YOU HAVE EVER TAKEN?

WHAT DOES YOUR CURRENT JOB ENTAIL?

Switching career fields. Long story short, my PhD was focused on exploration of porphyry copper deposits. When I graduated, I had a job offer to work for a big mining company in Chile. However, I had decided that I wanted to stay in the US,

I am a petrophysicist in training for the South

Texas Asset team at SM Energy. I am responsible for the generation of facies schemes and petro-

physical models to help with the development of

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our assets and new exploratory targets.

RMAG’s Ad Hoc Committee on Diversity and Inclusion is initiating a new feature in the Outcrop, a monthly Member Corner. We hope you’ll enjoy learning about the diverse community of Earth scientists and wide variety of geoscience disciplines that comprise our membership.

If you would like to be featured in a future Member Corner, contact staff@rmag.org.

OUTCROP | January 2022

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MEMBER CORNER

» CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22

and I interviewed for a summer internship at SM Energy – an oil company. I did not know what was going to happen after the internship was over, but I worked hard to show them I had the skills needed to add value to company plus a diverse background with different perspectives. They hired me and I love them. It was the best decision of my life.

WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES OR PASSIONS OUTSIDE OF WORK?

I am very much into inline speed skating. It has been my sport and my hobby since I was 13 years old. I am part of Synergy Speed Skating club in Denver, where I train three to four times per week. Other than that, I enjoy steep hikes, and getting together with my friends to cook Colombian food. Also, since I moved to Colorado I am learning to ski.

WHO INSPIRES YOU?

I get inspired by every brave member of the LGBTQIA+ community who live theirs lives in plenitude despite of being rejected, hated, or abused by their own family, friends, and society in general. I get inspired by those who have the courage to fight stereotypes, to face the fears and struggles of a world without kindness.

eyes, I will know I have succeeded in life.

HOW ARE YOU IMPACTING THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU?

I think of myself as a diversity ambassador. I represent both, the LGBTQIA+ and Latin communities, and I proudly share aspects of these cultures wherever I go. I like to open people’s mind and to encourage the embracement of individual differences.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS?

I define success by the ability to inspire others. To be that role model who is worthy of imitation. If ten years from now someone asks me “how did you do it?” with admiration in their

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MEMBER CORNER

Meet Ginny Gent Retired Geologist, MS early jobs in computer science and data base administration provided me with a varied knowledge base that proved valuable in my later jobs in teaching and geology. I like to think of my career choices as a basis for being a “Jack of all Trades”, and for the tenacity to take on new challenges.

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN GEOSCIENCES? My introduction to geology was a high school freshman science class. I had a choice between biology and geology, and since I didn’t want to memorize all the biological terms, I chose geology. Our teacher, Al Goldstein, had a degree in geology and was very passionate about the subject.

His lesson on plasticity using a large block of Silly Putty set on top of the lab bench gas nozzles is a visual memory that remains with me today. Upon graduating high school I came to Colorado from New Jersey to study Chemical Engineering at Colorado School of Mines. After a year of ChemE and an internship making toothpaste, I realized I did not enjoy the degree path and switched to Geological Engineering, a passion that was sparked during that high school class.

WHAT WERE SOME OF YOUR MORE REWARDING PARTS OF YOUR CAREER?

Looking back on my 35 plus years of working, I did many things that were rewarding. One that stands out was helping high school students find that they can do math after years of being told otherwise. My proudest moments during my teaching years were seeing students’ faces when they passed a state mandated test for the first time ever.

WHAT DOES RETIREMENT LOOK LIKE FOR YOU IN TERMS OF GEOSCIENCE?

WHAT JOBS DID YOU DO DURING YOUR CAREER?

I have been very fortunate to find the best post-career “job”. I volunteer as a Research Associate for the Denver Museum of Nature and Science under the guidance of James Hagadorn, PhD, the Tim & Kathryn Ryan Curator of Geology. My job is to help bridge the museum geologists’ surficial work with the subsurface, using a Kingdom

I have held many jobs during my career: a tech for Mineral Management Services, Systems Analyst for Amoco Production Company, stay home mom, substitute Teacher, High School Math Teacher, and Geologist for an E&P Company. My

RMAG’s Ad Hoc Committee on Diversity and Inclusion is initiating a new feature in the Outcrop, a monthly Member Corner. We hope you’ll enjoy learning about the diverse community of Earth scientists and wide variety of geoscience disciplines that comprise our membership.

If you would like to be featured in a future Member Corner, contact staff@rmag.org.

OUTCROP | February 2022

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Vol. 71, No. 2 | www.rmag.org

WHO INSPIRES YOU?

software license donated to the museum. This work involves building the well and well-log database using publicly available data, creating maps and cross sections, and aiding with fieldwork to further the understanding of Colorado geology. All the fun parts of what my career in geology entailed.

Young women working in the technical and scientific fields, becoming leaders and succeeding by challenging the gender biases that still exist in the workplace. They are tenacious, determined, relentless, and supportive of each other. These young women are a force and I am inspired by their passion to make a difference.

WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES OR PASSIONS OUTSIDE OF GEOLOGY?

I have several hobbies that I have pursued in retirement. Quilting, hiking, skiing, baking sourdough bread, and gardening all keep me busy when I’m not picking tops in Kingdom. Quilting has become a passion that encompasses my analytical side as well as the artistic part of my brain.

I enjoy the exploration of color in the quilt patterns and the free motion quilting that is used to stitch the quilt “sandwich” (quilt top, batting and back) together.

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WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE ENTERING INTO THE GEOSCIENCES?

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Be open minded. You have no idea how your career will unfold in front of you. Continue to learn new skills and don’t be afraid to take on new challenges. I graduated when the petroleum industry was in a slump and took a chance with Amoco and being a System Analyst. It proved to be a great opportunity to learn computer programming and database administration, skills I used throughout my multifaceted career.

OUTCROP | February 2022