Public education is geology's best public-relations tool, and the need for increased public awareness of geology has never been more acute than it is today. The American Geological Institute, the National Association of Geology Teachers, and The American Association of Petroleum Geologists are doing much to place geology in the public eye, but individual geologists can play an active part in disseminating geologic information at the local level.

Petroleum geologists, because of their background and experience, could and should assume an active role in public education. Lay teaching in the community might include work with (1) Boy Scouts, (2) college "career days," (3) civic clubs, (4) television programs, (5) museum classes and field trips, (6) non-technical writing, (7) public and school libraries, (8) rock and mineral clubs, (9) public-school science teachers, (10) public-school science classes, and (11) science fairs.

Activities of this sort not only will help to attract brighter high school graduates into the geological sciences, but also will strengthen the public image of the petroleum geologist.

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