SEG Foundation Research Articles

Geoscientists Without Borders announces first grant recipients

PreviousNext You have accessThe Leading EdgeVolume 28, Issue 1Geoscientists Without Borders announces first grant recipientshttps://doi.org/10.1190/tle28010012.1 SectionsAboutPDF/ePub ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail Projects to alleviate the severe water crisis in central India and train students to investigate and manage domestic geotechnical challenges are the first-ever recipients of grants from the SEG Foundation's new Geoscientists Without Borders program. The Foundation announced these awards during a gala luncheon at the 2008 Annual Meeting in Las Vegas. Both projects will carry the mission of this new program forward into action in 2009. Joining universities and their students with communities in two foreign countries, the projects demonstrate the critical role geophysics plays in assisting communities with significant needs for basic resources.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsCited by3D seismic discontinuity attributes analyses for low – permeability reservoir sand fractures characterisation: an onshore example from Niger delta, Nigeria19 January 2021 | NRIAG Journal of Astronomy and Geophysics, Vol. 10, No. 1 Volume 28Issue 1Jan 2009Pages: 1–128ISSN (print):1070-485X ISSN (online):1938-3789 publication data© 2009 © 2009 by The Society of Exploration GeophysicistsPublisher:Society of Exploration Geophysicists HistoryPublished Online: 17 Aug 2012Published in print: 01 Jan 2009 CITATION INFORMATION (2009), "Geoscientists Without Borders announces first grant recipients," The Leading Edge 28: 12-14. https://doi.org/10.1190/tle28010012.1 Plain-Language Summary PDF Download Metrics Loading ...

What is the SEG Foundation?

The question often arises: What is the SEG Foundation? Is it a committee? The answer is no. Why does it exist? The answer is to support SEG. The Foundation is an independent corporation, established in 1983 to provide charitable and educational support for programs aligned with the mission of SEG. It is a 501(c)(3) “Type I Supporting Organization.” SEG is the sole stockholder of the corporation and provides structural control through the bylaws and the appointment of the Board of Directors.

Interning at the Geoscience Center

For the last few years, the Geoscience Center at SEG's business office in Tulsa has hired interns during the summer months through an SEG Foundation Project of Merit. It is, to use the modern terminology, a “win-win” situation. The Center gets some energized young minds and bodies to attack a range of needed tasks, and the interns are exposed to science (including actual working scientists) in general and to geophysics in particular.

SEG Foundation to celebrate in Vegas

The SEG Foundation has come a long way since embarking on its first professional major gift campaign, Advancing Geophysics Today, Inspiring Geoscientists for Tomorrow in 2004. A $15 million goal was announced at the SEG 2007 Annual Meeting in San Antonio, and the successful completion of the campaign will be celebrated at a gala luncheon for 600 invited guests in Las Vegas.

TGS and Geophysical Pursuit Announce Field Camp Commitments

The SEG Foundation's Summer Field Camp grant program received a tremendous boost in August with the announcement of two new commitments to the Advancing Geophysics Today, Inspiring Geoscientists for Tomorrow Campaign. These commitments will raise the annual level of support provided to field camps around the world to over US$150 000!

Scholarships Set New Record

The SEG Foundation scholarship program set a new recordin 2008 with US$484 545 in awards to 176 students studying at universities in 24 countries. Th is is an increase of 110% in cumulative award value in just the last five years (Figure 1). Th is growth has been made possible through the generosity of the many donors committed to giving back to our profession by actively encouraging the next generation of geophysicists.

The Real Impact of the SEG Foundation Campaign

Recently, someone asked me what makes the Advancing Geophysics Today, Inspiring Geoscientists for Tomorrow campaign so special? The answers are myriad: We're blessed with some incredibly generous donors who believe in the science and the future of geophysics. We're also lucky to have amazing volunteers who are leading SEG and the SEG Foundation steadily toward the US $15 million goal. Even the campaign's theme is special because it recognizes that the vision and innovations of today's geoscientists will impact the future in ways unforeseen.

SEG committees create a host of opportunities for geoscience students worldwide

Thanks to our generous donors, 2008 will be a banner year for your Foundation and your profession. With an influx of new funding from the Advancing Geophysics Today, Inspiring Geoscientists for Tomorrow campaign, record payouts are expected for every SEG Foundation program.

Seismic field exercise in Nevada for students from the Kansas Geological Survey/University of Kansas and Montan University

As part of an effort to increase opportunities for student participation in field research projects, the Kansas Geological Survey (KGS), University of Kansas (KU), and Montan University of Leoben (MUL), Austria, formed a partnership to enhance the exposure and encourage participation of undergraduate and graduate students from both universities to applied seismic research projects. The summer of 2007 was the first in what is hoped to be a recurring series of joint field exercises. This first year's field project evaluated the potential of high-resolution near-surface seismic imaging to help reduce the massive statics problems commonly encountered on commercial data sets in mountainous areas of northern Nevada. This project addresses a real exploration problem with clearly defined objectives and associated deliverables. The SEG Foundation was a key and essential sponsor of this partnership. The field portion of the project lasted two months with time split between data acquisition and quality control analysis in northern Nevada and mobilization, demobilization, and preliminary data reduction in Lawrence, USA.

SEG: Global vision, global change

Among the many exciting developments that have marked SEG in recent years (and the list is long: creation of the SEG Advanced Modeling initiative, the emergence of the SEG Foundation as a major driver of student programs, the implementation of a very ambitious and complex restructuring of the Society's Web-based capabilities, and a greatly expanded lecture tour program, to name some of the most prominent), most can be linked to a common denominator.

SEG 2007: A pictorial review

Last September, San Antonio pulsed with a sizzling beat and spicy charm, and (as usual) SEG members took ample opportunity to mix business with pleasure at the 77th Annual Meeting. (Be sure to read “Memories of the 2007 Annual Meeting” by President-elect Larry Lines on page 419.) It was, by every account, an astonishing success with more than 8500 attendees from 99 countries and 348 exhibitors on the convention floor. Major highlights were the successful launch of the SEG Foundation's US$15 million major gifts campaign at an overflow luncheon, record-setting attendance at technical presentations, and the first SEG/Chevron Student Leadership Symposium.

A column by Lee Lawyer with stories about geophysics and geophysicists

You have an opportunity to become part of SEG's Major Gifts Campaign, Advancing Geophysics Today—Inspiring Geoscientists for Tomorrow. It is a little difficult even for those of us who were in on the start of the campaign to know when it began. It was sort of transitional. It was necessary to have adequate staff support, hire a consultant to keep us focused, and to set up a committee to bring it off. All of those things happened. Leon Thomsen, then SEG president, announced the campaign 24 September 2007, in San Antonio. Several companies have made significant contributions. If you are on the distribution list for the SEG Foundation's newsletter, you can read about the projects that were initiated because of the campaign (available at http://foundation.seg.org/newsletter/archive.shtml or go to http://foundation.seg.org and click Carrying the Torch). They are all seriously good stuff.

Reaching out to the next generation

The highlight of the Annual Meeting in San Antonio was without a doubt the Student Leadership Symposium held on Saturday, September 22. It was first event of its kind, and it was hugely successful. Through this program, supported by Chevron through the SEG Foundation, 41 student leaders from all over the world were flown to San Antonio to attend the convention, all expenses paid. To be eligible, these students had to demonstrate leadership and initiative in running their student sections. We, the members of the executive committee, had the good fortune of interacting with them during the afternoon session. It was refreshing and reassuring: The next generation is here with the right skills and the right attitude!

Engaging the future: The inaugugural SEG/Chevron Student Leadership Symposium

The force of their excitement almost overpowered the room as they stood to be recognized at the SEG Foundation Donor Luncheon on September 24th. They were a vision of the future—41 students from 16 countries representing 36 universities. They were engaged, they were thankful, and they were enthusiastic about geosciences and SEG.

SEG Foundation announces US$15 million campaign

The excitement that accompanies the SEG's Annual Meeting more than doubled during the Foundation Trustee Associates luncheon with an unprecedented announcement from President Leon Thomsen. Before a distinguished audience of more than 400 invited corporate, individual, and student leaders, Thomsen, flanked by the logos of nine well-known corporations, launched the Foundation's major gift campaign, Advancing Geophysics Today, Inspiring Geoscientists for Tomorrow, announcing a goal of US$15 million.

Acceptance of the Society of Economic Geologists Ralph W. Marsden Award for 2006

It is a very great honor to receive the Marsden Medal, and I want to thank the Council and officers of the Society, as well as colleagues who supported my nomination. I want to acknowledge my long time mentor, John Wilson, who passed away this last June. John was Director of Kennecott’s Exploration Services during the 1970s and my immediate supervisor for about 10 years. I would have been content with a career of breaking rocks and making maps. John’s genius as a manager was his intelligent insight and his ability to recognize potential in people before they realized it themselves. John gently prodded me into leadership positions and encouraged me to get involved in professional activities. Looking back on my relationship with John, it is apparent that it opened up opportunities and allowed me to provide service to the geologic profession that provided me with a long and interesting career. Within the Society, Phil Bethke, Art Barber, and Sam Adams were instrumental in getting me involved in Society affairs. It was a pleasure to work with these gentlemen. Of all the committees and positions in which I have served the Society, two stand out as personally most rewarding and a source of pride. One is the Foundation’s Student Research Grant program, and the other is the Society’s first stand-alone meeting held in Denver in 1993. I would like to share some thoughts about these two activities. The Student Research Grants program was set up by the SEG Foundation to provide financial assistance to students to help reimburse research expenses and other costs required for a graduate degree. Keystone of the program is the endowment within the Foundation provided by the estate of Hugh E. and Elizabeth McKinstry. McKinstry was professor of …

SEG Foundation Projects of Merit Program doubles awards

On 18 April 2007, the SEG Foundation Board awarded a cumulative total of US$109 650 to nineteen Projects of Merit. This amount is double the amount awarded in 2006. The goal of the annual Projects of Merit program is to provide support to worthwhile projects that are aligned with the Foundation's mission of encouraging and supporting scientific, educational, and charitable activities of benefit to geophysicists.

A column by Lee Lawyer with stories about geophysics and geophysicists

Last year in New Orleans, the SEG Foundation announced some major investments from Anadarko and Chevron. These (enlightened) companies were the first to kick off a process that would include a major gifts campaign. There is an interesting story behind those announcements. It all started several years ago at a Trustee Associate Annual Meeting. I happened to be the chair of the Steering Committee and as such was leading the business meeting. We were in an unstructured session when someone said (might have been Walt Lynn, then the SEG president) that we needed to hire a full-time employee who was experienced in nonprofit fund raising. There was a spirited discussion of which I lost complete control. In the end, a recommendation was made to the Board which unanimously concurred (maybe because they were all there). It took a couple of years, but it finally happened.

Foundation excitement at the Annual Meeting

This year's Annual Meeting will be an exciting one for SEG and the SEG Foundation! On Monday, 24 September in San Antonio, Texas, SEG President Leon Thomsen will make an announcement like none other in the history of the Foundation and the Society. In attendance will be donors, program beneficiaries, special guests, and corporate representatives from all across the globe.

SEG scholarship program sets new records

As chairman of the Scholarship Committee I am delighted to report the largest ever disbursement of scholarship awards in the SEG Foundation's 50-year history: 172 students receiving a record US$448 350! This is a 55% increase compared to last year and close to a 70% increase from the year before. This achievement is the result of generous contributions received from Anadarko Petroleum Corporation and several individual donors during the past year.