AAPG/DPA Discovery Thinking Forums began in 2007. This was an initiative of the 100th Anniversary committee featuring discoverers telling stories about new field or new play discoveries at invited Forums at AAPG Annual Meetings. These immediately became a popular and integral part of the AAPG Technical Programs. These were started at the ACE Meetings, but global interest led to these forums becoming part of the ICE Technical program in 2012.

Since inception there have been 19 Discovery Thinking Forums at both ACE and ICE events. More than 100 speakers and their co-authors have presented discoveries they know well, commonly to standing room only audiences. We owe these "100 who made a difference" heartfelt gratitude as we celebrate the AAPG Centenary. They have generously gifted us with hard won and costly insights leading to significant discoveries. They offer analogs for technical and business success. What is the greatest lesson to us? Michel T. Halbouty said of pioneering wildcatters: "If they could do it, why can't we?" We pay tribute to the 115 men and women who have participated in these forums. We will feature several brief representative vignettes of previous presentations spotlighting valuable exploration lessons.

Resources hosted on the AAPG Search and Discovery website (Special Collections, Discovery Thinking) form an enduring heritage to modern and future explorers. Multimedia presentations of previous Discovery Thinking talks have been viewed tens of thousands of times. In addition, AAPG/DPA has launched Playmaker Forums, 1 day stand-alone events on Discoveries. Playmakers also offer a collection of multimedia presentations. Thanks to all the presenters. We celebrate their success and thank them for leaving their heritage better than they found it. May they inspire us to new make new discoveries!

AAPG is dedicated to providing valuable geoscience and professional content to fuel prosperity in AAPG's second century. Since 2010 a technology led energy renaissance of activity in the world's most richly endowed "super basins". The Permian and Gulf Coast basins are prototype super basins with more than 5 BBOE produced, 5BBOE future reserves, multiple source rocks, many pays, infrastructure, and well established service sectors. The top 25 super basins around the globe have potential energy resources of more than 800 BBOE (Bob Fryklund, Pete Stark, and IHS Markit). Above ground choices by host countries will play a key role in future energy prosperity. To share best practices on energy, economics, and environment, AAPG plans a 2-day Global Super Basin Leadership Conference March 27-29, 2018 at the Hilton America Hotel, Houston Texas.

http://www.searchanddiscovery.com/specialcollections/discoverythinking.html