There’s an old saying that describes the theme ofthis month’s column: “Give people a fish, and feed them for a day; teach people how to fish, and feed them for life.”

For years most of us who have made our careers in the oilpatch have been trying to educate our national leaders and the general public about the oil and gas industry, what we do, how the industry works, and most of all how what we do benefits them. In this endeavor, we have failed miserably.

The politicians are not interested in anything except getting re-elected, and unless we could promise a never-ending supply of cheap gasoline to the public and arrange to give the politicians credit for it, they are not going to change their stance. They see the oil and gas business as a mysterious amorphous form with access to tons of money. Our arcane language, unusual techniques, and mind-blowing technology are completely foreign to them, and they see no benefit in learning about it. Instead, they see the oil industry as a convenient “whipping boy” that they can blame for any calamity, real or imagined, in their 15-second sound bytes on the six o’clock news.

The public fears and shies away from anything they don’t understand and, thanks to the efforts of the sensationalist media, coupled with our lack of effort, the average person is clueless about our industry or the energy industry in general. To them, “big oil” is a four-letter word.

To be brutally honest, we have missed many opportunities to do something about this situation. One of the biggest disappointments of my life came when the Oklahoma Producers’ Association working with the State Legislature formed and funded the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board (OERB) to 1) raise public awareness regarding natural resources, 2) improve the quality and quantity of energy education for the children of Oklahoma, and 3) remediate abandoned drilling and production sites. My disappointment came when the remainder of the producing states didn’t copy the idea. As a Texan I was ashamed that my state didn’t take a leadership position in this initiative. The initiative was called a “check-off” program and was funded by a voluntary levy on each barrel of oil equivalent produced. The results in Oklahoma are tangible. Too bad no one else followed suit.

So where’s the good news? Happily, several grass-roots organizations have sprung up to further the cause of energy education. These groups realize that educating politicians, the media, and the public is a lost cause. But by educating the next generation, we might just be able to turn the tide of public opinion. Here’s what one organization is doing.

The Education Outreach Committee of the Offshore Energy Center has created a model program for others to emulate. By developing initiatives suitable for each level

of student, from kindergarten through 12th grade, the level of general understanding about our energy industry is on the rise.

This is not oil industry propaganda. The lessons address the national science curricula objectives required for every student and have been carefully crafted to help our professional educators meet their objectives as teachers. Such programs as “Playing with Petroleum,” aimed at the youngest students; the traveling Mobile Offshore Learning Unit (MOLU) targeting mid-level students; and the E3 — Enhancing Energy Edu-cation lesson and experiment books, which target all levels; have a waiting-list of teachers and schools wanting to implement them.

The popular “Knowledge Boxes” filled with worthwhile lessons and experiments have been shipped across North America to help schools provide interesting and educational science learning for all students. And the program is not just for the kids. Teachers’ workshops are held several times a year, and Career Fairs give high-schoolers a glimpse of a fascinating and rewarding life in the energy industry.

These programs are sponsored by generous donations of time and funds from major oil companies, independent producers, service and supply companies, and individuals. By energizing young minds with the story and science of energy, they will not be wasted.

It’s good news indeed! For more information, visit www.oceanstaroec.com.