Thomas Schmidt P.Geo., a former Geology student from the U of R, received the ring alongside his daughter, Jaime Schmidt, who graduated from Geology at the U of R in April 2019.
Submitted By: Dr. Janis E. Dale, P.Geo., FGC
The gathering and Ritual of the calling of an Earth Scientist at The University of Regina is for the purpose of obligating individuals who are graduates of Geology and Geoscience at The University of Regina. The intent is that the ring be a source of pride for all geosceintists as they join the ranks of engineers with a symbol of their commitment to ensuring the integrity of our geoscience discipline.
There have been two Earth Ring Ceremonies at the University of Regina, the first in April 2018 and the second in April 2019, at which 18 individuals took the oath of obligation. Some were graduating students, MSc students and former students. The next one will be in spring 2020. If you have graduated from the University of Regina and would like to be obligated with an earth ring, contact Dr. Janis E. Dale, P. Geo., FGC atjanis.dale@uregina.ca by March 1, 2020.
The Concept
Dr. Stephen Bend, P.Geo. who retired April 30 2019, and is now a Professor Emeritus at the University of Regina, developed the concept and wrote the program and ceremony based on the writings of Rudyard Kipling and the iron ring ceremony as inaugurated by H.E.T Haultain (1925).
Part of the ceremony is:
“The Earth Ring Ceremony is a formal ceremony celebrating the integrity of the professions of both geologist and geoscientist. These professions have always had a great impact on society, in particular in the areas of resource exploration, and more recently with the growing importance of environmental issues, both of which ensure our professionals will continue to play a major role in society.
The Ring Ceremony supports and enhances our best intentions, thoughts and practices as professional Earth Scientists, and through the Earth Ring ceremony, which bears similarity to the Iron Ring Ceremony of the Engineer, we endorse our close bond with the engineers.”
The Ring
According to Bend, “The ring is of metal from the earth, shiny as a bright new idea. It is round as a great circle encompassing this earth and marked with a crossed hammer and seismic trace. Without beginning and without end, the ring represents to those that wear it, the continuous and continuing interplay of ideas, of instrumentation and of material realities. The ring represents the public oath of obligation accepted by the recipient and is not a bauble or charm, but represents the serious attitude that must uphold the ‘integrity of their obligation”.
Ceremony Proceedings
Recipients are asked if they accept the obligation in public and are then presented their ring and certificate. An honourary ring-bearer accepts and approves the offered obligation and approves the candidates to be worthy to accept the Earth Ring and its obligations. An honourary ring recipient is chosen each year for services to Geoscience and the Department of Geology and its students and programs.