I2M’s Chief Geologist Steps Down as Chair of the Energy Minerals Division’s Uranium (Nuclear & Rare Earth) Committee after 17 Years

Michael D. Campbell, I2M’s Chief Geologist advised members of the Energy Minerals Division of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) that after 17 years as the Chairman of the Uranium (Nuclear & Rare Earth) Committee (UCOM), it is time to step down effective July 1, 2021 to allow other geologists to experience the developing new growth in nuclear power and the coming resurgence of uranium exploration that is now clearly on the horizon. The timing is good for such a move because he indicated that he has been getting offers to consider joining corporate boards of some uranium companies over the past few months. When, and if, he accepted such a position it would make his leadership position in the Uranium Committee difficult, if not untenable. He also indicated that he has been discussing the likelihood of such a move with his Vice-Chairs and his Advisory Group for some time so his move now should not be a surprise to them.

In his announcement to EMD and AAPG, he also indicated that during the transition he would be pleased to assist the incoming Chairperson and Vice-Chairs in making the uranium, nuclear power and rare earth databases of the I2M Web Portal available for their use in monitoring the activities in industry, universities, and in government. His final Annual Report of the Uranium (Nuclear & Rare Earth) Committee is supported, as before, by these databases within the I2M Web Portal, which currently contains more than 11,000 records consisting of old and new publications and technical news items on these and other subjects of interest to the I2M Management and Associates. The AAPG EMD YouTube Channel, which was initiated and managed by his I2M group and provided post-production and clean-up services at no cost to EMD, will remain available until all of the current videos have been transferred to another suitable EMD YouTube site or retained on the I2M YouTube Channel.

Mr. Campbell thanked the Vice-Chairs, Advisory Group, and the Special Consultants (as listed in the above final Annual UCOM Report) for their outstanding support of his activities over the years in performing the Committee’s prime function of advising the oil & gas geologists of the AAPG and the general public on the activities of uranium and rare earth exploration and nuclear power development in the U.S. and around the world, which has always been the principal objective of the EMD and associated Commodity Committees.

Looking to the future, Mr. Campbell said that he will continue to support the EMD Critical Minerals Committee and the AAPG Astrogeology Committee, as requested, and would provide any assistance to the new UCOM Chair, as needed, and that he looks forward to continuing his affiliation with EMD as it and the AAPG enter a new, uncertain future.