Seismic Soundoff

Seismic Soundoff

By Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG)Science
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Seismic Soundoff episodes

  • 193: The potency of rock-physics-guided deep neural networks
    Fabien Allo highlights his award-winning article, "Characterization of a carbonate geothermal reservoir using rock-physics-guided deep neural networks."
    In this episode with host Andrew Geary, Fabien shares the potential of deep neural networks (DNNs) in integrating seismic data for reservoir characterization. He explains why DNNs have yet to be widely utilized in the energy industry and why utilizing a training set was key to this study. Fabien also details why they did not include any original wells in the final training set and the advantages of neural networks over seismic inversion. He closes with how this method of training neural networks on synthetic data might be useful beyond the application to a geothermal study.
    This episode is an exciting opportunity to hear directly from an award-winning author on some of today's most cutting-edge geophysics tools.
    Listen to the full archive at https://seg.org/podcast.
    RELATED LINKS
    * Fabien Allo, Jean-Philippe Coulon, Jean-Luc Formento, Romain Reboul, Laure Capar, Mathieu Darnet, Benoit Issautier, Stephane Marc, and Alexandre Stopin, (2021), "Characterization of a carbonate geothermal reservoir using rock-physics-guided deep neural networks," The Leading Edge 40: 751–758. - https://doi.org/10.1190/tle40100751.1
    BIOGRAPHY
    Fabien Allo received his BSc in mathematics, physics, and chemistry with a biology option from the Lycée Chateaubriand, Rennes (France) in 2000 and his MSc and engineering degree in geology from the École Nationale Supérieure de Géologie, Nancy (France) in 2003.
    Since joining CGG 20 years ago, he has held several roles in the UK, Brazil, and now Canada working on inventing, designing, and developing reservoir R&D workflows for seismic forward modeling and inversion with a specific focus on data integration through rock physics.
    Fabien was recently promoted to the position of rock physics & reservoir expert within CGG's TECH+ Reservoir R&D team. He has increasingly applied geoscience capabilities to energy transition areas, such as carbon capture & sequestration (CCS) and geothermal projects.
    He received the SEG Award for Best Paper in The Leading Edge in 2021 for a CGG-BRGM co-authored paper published in October 2021: "Characterization of a carbonate geothermal reservoir using rock-physics-guided deep neural networks." (https://www.cgg.com/sites/default/files/2021-10/TLE%20Oct%202021%20Allo%20et%20al%20Final%20published.pdf)
    CREDITS
    Seismic Soundoff explores the depth and usefulness of geophysics for the scientific community and the public. If you want to be the first to know about the next episode, please follow or subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Two of our favorites are Apple Podcasts and"Spotify.
    If you have episode ideas, feedback for the show, or want to sponsor a future episode, find the "Contact Seismic Soundoff" box at https://seg.org/podcast.
    Zach Bridges created original music for this show. Andrew Geary hosted, edited, and produced this episode at TreasureMint. The SEG podcast team is Jennifer Cobb, Kathy Gamble, and Ally McGinnis.
    17 min
  • 192: Maximizing the value of IMAGE
    Aria Abubakar and Wenyi Hu, co-chair and vice-chair of the IMAGE Technical Program Committee, respectively, discuss the reasons for attending IMAGE '23.
    The third annual International Meeting for Applied Geoscience & Energy (IMAGE) will bring geoscientists from around the world from 28 August to 1 September at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. IMAGE is the largest technical program in the event's history. IMAGE will have 168 oral and 110 poster sessions over three full days, totaling 1108 oral and poster presentations. There will be 30 topics, including nine geology focus topics, 11 geophysics topics, and ten integrated topics. IMAGE will also have 20 special oral sessions comprising 15 geology and geophysics topics not covered by the regular technical sessions.
    In this conversation with host Andrew Geary, Aria and Wenyi help attendees navigate the large technical program, provide a sneak preview of the top topics, and offer tips to make the most of your attendance. Aria and Wenyi also explain the changes to the abstract submission process this year and the benefits of these changes. They close by answering the most common questions they receive on the Technical Program and highlight the surprising value of attending poster sessions.
    In conjunction with episode 191, How to unlock the power of networking, these episodes will provide a solid foundation to maximize your value of attending IMAGE '23.
    Listen to the full archive at https://seg.org/podcast.
    RELATED LINKS
    * Read the IMAGE '23 Preview in The Leading Edge - https://library.seg.org/doi/10.1190/tle42070452.1
    * Register for IMAGE '23 - https://platform.tpni.com/GcmMaintenance/aapg/Html_Files/30000087/landing.html
    * Learn more about IMAGE '23 - https://www.imageevent.org/
    * Listen to Episode 191, How to unlock the power of networking - https://seg.org/podcasts/episode-191-how-to-unlock-the-power-of-networking/
    CREDITS
    Seismic Soundoff explores the depth and usefulness of geophysics for the scientific community and the public. If you want to be the first to know about the next episode, please follow or subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Two of our favorites are Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
    If you have episode ideas, feedback for the show, or want to sponsor a future episode, find the "Contact Seismic Soundoff" box at https://seg.org/podcast.
    Zach Bridges created original music for this show. Andrew Geary hosted, edited, and produced this episode at TreasureMint. The SEG podcast team is Jennifer Cobb, Kathy Gamble, and Ally McGinnis.
    19 min
  • 191: How to unlock the power of networking
    Lia Martinez shares the critical skills necessary to network successfully.
    In this conversation with host Andrew Geary, Lia offers tips and best practices to fully utilize networking to further your career and technical skills. She explains why seven follow-ups (or touches) is the magic number, the importance of establishing credibility early, and how to use note-taking to your advantage. She outlines the unique ways that both introverts and extroverts struggle with networking (and how to address them). Lia also explores why no one can tell if you have confidence (or not) and why approaching each person as an individual treasure chest can unlock career-defining connections.
    This conversation may seem like a soft skill to ignore, but mastering networking could be the tool that unlocks your next scientific discovery or promotion.
    Listen to the full archive at https://seg.org/podcast.
    RELATED LINKS
    * Watch the entire SEG Near-Surface Geophysics Critical Skills Series - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlZgHYz5DCM&list=PLEIS8l89JCa0-HG0fXn2m7Unz457Fw9rv
    BIOGRAPHY
    Lia Martinez is a Geophysical Engineer working with Mount Sopris Instruments in Denver, Colorado. She received her B.Sc. degree in Geophysical Engineering with a minor in Physics from the Colorado School of Mines in 2007. Her Master's thesis in Archaeology at the University of Denver (2008-2010) was completed over two summers by applying ground penetrating radar to a pre-Incan mound site in highland Ecuador. Lia has worked with Mount Sopris Instruments since 2013. Her work includes sales, field training, online marketing, equipment development, and technical support for geophysical borehole instrumentation and software worldwide.
    Lia speaks Spanish and frequently travels to other countries to teach geophysical logging applications for groundwater, environmental, and mining applications. She is the past Secretary of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists Near Surface Technical Section (SEG NSTS) and past VP-Committees and Member at Large for the Environmental and Engineering Geophysical Society (EEGS).
    CREDITS
    Seismic Soundoff explores the depth and usefulness of geophysics for the scientific community and the public. If you want to be the first to know about the next episode, please follow or subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Two of our favorites are Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
    If you have episode ideas, feedback for the show, or want to sponsor a future episode, find the "Contact Seismic Soundoff" box at https://seg.org/podcast.
    Zach Bridges created original music for this show. Andrew Geary hosted, edited, and produced this episode at TreasureMint. The SEG podcast team is Jennifer Cobb, Kathy Gamble, and Ally McGinnis.
    25 min
  • 190: The unique power of combining GPR and FWI
    Anja Klotzsche discusses her Near-Surface Global Lecture, "Unlocking the potential of GPR for subsurface characterization by using full-waveform inversion."
    The heterogeneous near-surface consists of the complex interactions between rock, soil, water, air, and living organisms, which determine the availability of life-sustaining resources such as water. This environment has been increasingly exploited for human needs, such as water supply, to store our waste and food production. To assess the environmental risk associated with such exploitation and exploration, the near-surface must be investigated and characterized with high-resolution methods to enhance our understanding of hydrological and biogeochemical processes.
    In this conversation with host Andrew Geary, Anja describes the recent developments in FWI that have impacted how to apply GPR. She outlines a few of her favorite GPR applications, the impact of AI on GPR, and the role GPR and FWI can have in improving management decisions. Anja also shares the lightbulb moment when she realized her method was special. And why she changed her mind about hydrogeophysics and EM methods.
    This episode will challenge you to consider GPR in a new way and, in so doing, put FWI in a new perspective as well.
    Listen to the full archive at https://seg.org/podcast.
    RELATED LINKS
    * Register for Anja's lecture (21 June 2023 & 12 September 2023) - https://www.knowledgette.com/p/unlocking-the-potential-of-gpr-for-subsurface-characterization-by-using-full-waveform-inversion
    * Discover SEG on Demand - https://seg.org/Education/SEG-on-Demand
    BIOGRAPHY
    Since 2021, Anja Klotzsche has been a professor in hydrogeophysics at the Agrosphere Institute of the Forschungszentrum Juelich (FZJ) and the Institute of Geophysics and Meteorology of the University of Colonge.
    Anja's research focuses on developing and applying ground penetrating radar (GPR) and full-waveform inversion for various environments. She combines theoretical method developments with applications to solve geological, hydrogeological, and biogeological problems, including flow in porous media, peatland processes, agricultural monitoring, Mars-analog soils, and more, through both borehole and surface GPR. Anja has been active within the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, serving as Publications Program Leader and Global Vice Chair of the Near Surface Technical Section, and within the American Geophysical Union, serving as the Early Career and European Representative of the Near Surface Focus Group. She has received seven awards, including the first AGU Near-Surface Geophysics Early Career Achievement Award 2020.
    Anja earned her Ph.D. in Hydrogeophysics at the RWTH Aachen in cooperation with the FZJ, her master's in applied Geophysics (joint master at TU Delft, ETH Zurich and RWTH Aachen), and her bachelor's in geophysics at the TUBA Freiberg.
    CREDITS
    Seismic Soundoff explores the depth and usefulness of geophysics for the scientific community and the public. If you want to be the first to know about the next episode, please follow or subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Two of our favorites are Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
    If you have episode ideas, feedback for the show, or want to sponsor a future episode, find the "Contact Seismic Soundoff" box at https://seg.org/podcast.
    Zach Bridges created original music for this show. Andrew Geary hosted, edited, and produced this episode at TreasureMint. The SEG podcast team is Jennifer Cobb, Kathy Gamble, and Ally McGinnis.
    23 min
  • 189: How to apply machine learning to real-world problems
    As the size and complexity of data soars exponentially, machine learning (ML) has gained prominence in applications in geoscience and related fields. ML-powered technology increasingly rivals or surpasses human performance and fuels a large range of leading-edge research.
    In this conversation with host Andrew Geary, mathematician Herman Jaramillo discusses his new book, Machine Learning for Science and Engineering Volume One: Fundamentals. This book teaches the underlying mathematics, terminology, and programmatic skills to implement, test, and apply ML to real-world problems. It builds the mathematical pillars required to comprehend and master modern ML concepts thoroughly and translates the newly gained mathematical understanding into better-applied data science.
    Herman explains why this book is a unique contribution to the growing field of machine learning, the role of intuition in using ML, and what's in this book that you rarely find in other ML books. He also goes in-depth on the critical understanding of finding the best-suited algorithm. This conversation and book explore the hottest topics facing students, scientists, and engineers. And this episode will provide a solid foundation to understand how to utilize this cutting-edge science in your work.
    Dr. Herman Jaramillo teaches at the University of Medellín and is a member of the Research Group on Scientific Modeling and Computing.
    Listen to the full archive at https://seg.org/podcast.
    BUY THE BOOK
    * Print edition (https://seg.org/shop/products/detail/588367503)
    * E-book (https://library.seg.org/doi/book/10.1190/1.9781560803898)
    CREDITS
    Seismic Soundoff explores the depth and usefulness of geophysics for the scientific community and the public. If you want to be the first to know about the next episode, please follow or subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Two of our favorites are Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
    If you have episode ideas, feedback for the show, or want to sponsor a future episode, find the "Contact Seismic Soundoff" box at https://seg.org/podcast.
    Zach Bridges created original music for this show. Andrew Geary hosted, edited, and produced this episode at TreasureMint. The SEG podcast team is Jennifer Cobb, Kathy Gamble, and Ally McGinnis.
    20 min
  • 188: A reality check on full-wave inversion w/ Öz Yilmaz
    Öz Yilmaz returns to the podcast to highlight his award-winning article, "A reality check on full-wave inversion applied to land seismic data for near-surface modeling."
    In this conversation with host Andrew Geary, Öz assesses the accuracy of full-wave inversion applied to land seismic data for near-surface modeling. He elaborates on his definition of near-surface and explains why he believes full-wave inversion failed to yield an accurate near-surface model. Öz also describes how the seismic waves behave within the near-surface and what would make a good initial model for FWI.
    Using his insightful and informative style, Öz provides invaluable information on some of the most important topics facing geophysicists. Öz breaks down complex issues into understandable and actionable takeaways. Do not miss this opportunity to learn from one of the best geophysicists working today.
    Listen to the full archive at https://seg.org/podcast.
    RELATED LINKS
    * Read the Best Paper for 2022: Öz Yilmaz, Kai Gao, Milos Delic, Jianghai Xia, Lianjie Huang, Hossein Jodeiri, and Andre Pugin (2022), "A reality check on full-wave inversion applied to land seismic data for near-surface modeling," The Leading Edge 41: 40–46. (https://doi.org/10.1190/tle41010040.1)
    * Listen to Öz discuss his latest book, Land Seismic Case Studies for Near-Surface Modeling and Subsurface Imaging (https://seg.org/podcast/post/12564)
    * Explore Öz Yilmaz's books (https://seg.org/shop/products/search/Oz%20Yilmaz)
    BIOGRAPHY
    Öz Yilmaz received his B.S. in geology with a geophysics option from the University of Missouri-Rolla in 1970, his M.S. in geophysics in 1972 from Stanford University, with research in rock physics and earthquake seismology, and, after five years in the industry, his Ph.D. in geophysics from Stanford University in 1979. Öz has worked in the seismic industry for 42 years; since 2000, he has broadened his interests in geophysics to include engineering and earthquake seismology.
    Yilmaz's first book, Seismic Data Processing, was published in 1987. This work was greatly expanded in a two-volume set, Seismic Data Analysis, published in 2001. In addition, Yilmaz published Engineering Seismology with Applications to Geotechnical Engineering in 2015 and Land Seismic Case Studies for Near-Surface Modeling and Subsurface Imaging in 2021.
    His publications, along with the numerous courses and lectures he has given worldwide (he was an SEG Distinguished Lecturer in 1996 and an SEG Distinguished Instructor in 2015), have remarkably impacted a generation of geophysicists worldwide. Through lectures, courses, presentations at professional meetings, publications, and books, Yilmaz has enormously impacted many professionals' careers by disseminating his knowledge and experience in exploration seismology and engineering seismology. Yilmaz has served SEG in numerous roles, including vice president of SEG during 1993–1994. He received the SEG Maurice Ewing Medal in 2022, the SEG Virgil Kauffman Gold Medal in 1991, and the EAGE Conrad Schlumberger Award in 1992.
    CREDITS
    Seismic Soundoff explores the depth and usefulness of geophysics for the scientific community and the public. If you want to be the first to know about the next episode, please follow or subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Two of our favorites are Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
    If you have episode ideas, feedback for the show, or want to sponsor a future episode, find the "Contact Seismic Soundoff" box at https://seg.org/podcast.
    Zach Bridges created original music for this show. Andrew Geary hosted, edited, and produced this episode at TreasureMint. The SEG podcast team is Jennifer Cobb, Kathy Gamble, and Ally McGinnis.
    24 min
  • 187: 11 lessons to succeed as a geoscientist
    Seismic Soundoff has featured some of the most well-known geoscientists, authors, and teachers for the past seven years. And since episode 72, host Andrew Geary has asked his guests, "What is one piece of advice you would offer someone that would like to succeed in this field?"
    The insight and experience across the 186 episodes are vast. To help collect some of this wisdom into one episode, we're excited to present an updated episode for some of our favorite answers to this closing question.
    This episode features 11 of our favorite lessons from the past two and a half years. You will hear from SEG legend Öz Yilmaz, current and past SEG presidents, well-known lecturers, and other stalwarts of geophysics. See below for the complete list and links to their entire conversation.
    Thank you to all the past guests on Seismic Soundoff. As we approach episode 200, we couldn't have made it this far without each of you. And a special thanks to the producers and contributors to the podcast behind the scenes, including Stacy Baker, Steve Brown, Lotti Bublitz, Jennifer Cobb, Kathy Gamble, Ally McGinnis, John Meade, Susan Stamm, and Kelsy Taylor.
    Listen to the full archive at https://seg.org/podcast.
    INTERVIEWS (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)
    * Boris Gurevich (https://seg.org/podcast/Post/15937)
    * Margariete Malenda and Tiziana Vanorio (https://seg.org/podcast/Post/12454)
    * Öz Yilmaz (https://seg.org/podcast/Post/15809)
    * Anna Shaughnessy (https://seg.org/podcast/Post/13633)
    * Denes Vigh (https://seg.org/podcast/Post/12464)
    * Joe Dellinger (https://seg.org/podcast/Post/13652)
    * Yogaani Bhatia (https://seg.org/podcast/Post/15996)
    * Heather Bedle (https://seg.org/podcast/Post/15900)
    * Ken Tubman (https://seg.org/podcast/Post/16002)
    * Cara Hunter and Teresa Santana (https://seg.org/podcast/Post/15899)
    * Paul Bauman (https://seg.org/podcast/Post/15921)
    RELATED LINKS
    * The previous episode highlighting our favorite lessons (https://seg.org/podcast/Post/11288)
    CREDITS
    Seismic Soundoff explores the depth and usefulness of geophysics for the scientific community and the public. If you want to be the first to know about the next episode, please follow or subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Two of our favorites are Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
    If you have episode ideas, feedback for the show, or want to sponsor a future episode, find the "Contact Seismic Soundoff" box at https://seg.org/podcast.
    Zach Bridges created original music for this show. Andrew Geary hosted, edited, and produced this episode at TreasureMint. The SEG podcast team is Jennifer Cobb, Kathy Gamble, and Ally McGinnis.
    18 min
  • 186: The role of critical minerals in future-proofing
    Critical mineral exploration will play a key role in human development and progress. The April 2023 special section of The Leading Edge focuses on the issue of critical minerals from the perspective of recent progress in mining exploration and anticipated future needs as the global energy economy transitions to higher use of, and reliance on, renewables.
    In this conversation with host Andrew Geary, Dr. Alan Jones defines critical minerals and how and why each country defines them differently. He explains why the public has a dim view of mining and what we can learn from China's long-term mineral vision. He elaborates on the valuable role of copper in utilizing electric vehicles and why we still don't understand the planet we live on. Alan also makes a case for why we must inspire young minds with the possibilities of critical minerals exploration.
    Do you want to be part of the future of humanity? This is the question at the center of this can't miss episode.
    Listen to the full archive at https://seg.org/podcast.
    RELATED LINKS
    * Chester J. Weiss and Alan G. Jones, (2023), "Introduction to this special section: Critical minerals exploration," The Leading Edge 42: 236–236. (https://doi.org/10.1190/tle42040236.1)
    * Alan G. Jones, (2023), "Mining for net zero: The impossible task," The Leading Edge 42: 266–276. (https://doi.org/10.1190/tle42040266.1)
    * Read the April 2023 special section: Critical minerals exploration. (https://library.seg.org/toc/leedff/42/4)
    Subscribers can read the full articles at https://library.seg.org/, and abstracts are always free.
    BIOGRAPHY
    Alan G. Jones is currently Senior Professor Emeritus at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, a Specially-Appointed Professor at the China University of Geosciences Beijing, and Adjunct Professor at Macquarie University and at the University of Western Australia. In addition, upon his retirement he formed an MT consulting company - Complete MT Solutions Inc. - with former students and a colleague in 2016.
    Alan was awarded the Tuzo Wilson medal of the Canadian Geophysical Union in 2006, was Appointed an International Member of the Geo-Electromagnetism Committee, Chinese Geophysical Society in 2009, was elected to Academia Europaea also in 2009 and was made a Member of the Royal Irish Academy in 2010. He was a Blaustein Visiting Professor at Stanford University for the Winter Term of 2016, and was appointed a Life Affiliate Member of the Geological Society of South Africa in 2016. In 2019 he was elected a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union.
    Alan is the most published (almost 200 papers) and most cited (over 13,500 citations) scientist in his chosen field of magnetotellurics. Together with Alan Chave, he published the most authoritative textbook to date on MT - The Magnetotelluric Method: Theory and Practice (Cambridge University Press).
    He is a qualified Professional Geoscientist accredited by the Professional Geoscientists Ontario (PGO).
    CREDITS
    Seismic Soundoff explores the depth and usefulness of geophysics for the scientific community and the public. If you want to be the first to know about the next episode, please follow or subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Two of our favorites are Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
    If you have episode ideas, feedback for the show, or want to sponsor a future episode, find the "Contact Seismic Soundoff" box at https://seg.org/podcast.
    Zach Bridges created original music for this show. Andrew Geary hosted, edited, and produced this episode at TreasureMint. The SEG podcast team is Jennifer Cobb, Kathy Gamble, and Ally McGinnis.
    22 min
  • 185: The current and future outlook for SEG and geophysics
    SEG President Ken Tubman discusses the future outlook of SEG and applied geophysics.
    In this conversation with host Andrew Geary, Ken provides the latest information on the ongoing SEG transformation. He outlines how SEG could allow greater experimentation, the pros and cons of its current governance structure, and how members can best contribute to SEG's future. Ken shares some risks for SEG's transformation and why building a successful future for SEG matters to him.
    This episode not only matters for SEG members and stakeholders and the profession of applied geophysics but provides expertise and guidance for all membership-based organizations. In addition, this conversation provides practical advice and expert recommendations that could continue to support SEG and the field moving forward.
    Listen to the full archive at https://seg.org/podcast.
    RELATED LINKS
    * Read the President's Page: Vision for SEG by Ken Tubman (https://library.seg.org/doi/10.1190/tle41100668.1)
    * Read the President's Page: The transformation of SEG by Pete Cramer (https://library.seg.org/doi/10.1190/tle41110745.1)
    * Read the President's Page: A perspective from 'the future' by Samara Omar (https://library.seg.org/doi/10.1190/tle41120812.1)
    * Watch the latest from SEG on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@SegOrg)
    BIOGRAPHY
    Ken Tubman is currently SEG President. He has been a member of SEG since 1979. Previously, he served on the SEG Board as a Director at Large from 2018 to 2020. He has volunteered with SEG in multiple ways, such as serving on committees and task forces, editing, and serving on the SEAM Board. He is also an SEG Foundation Trustee Associate.
    Tubman holds a Ph.D. in geophysics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a bachelor's degree in physics from the University of Massachusetts. He has spent more than 35 years in the energy industry. He currently serves as chairman of the board of directors of SAExploration, a leading seismic acquisition company. He has held senior positions within ConocoPhillips (including vice president geoscience and reservoir engineering, vice president subsurface), Veritas DGC (senior vice president Veritas Hampson Russell, vice president geoservices), and Marathon Oil (vice president technical innovation). He started his career with ARCO and has held various technical and management positions in the central functions and business units. A common thread though most of his career is his involvement in technology delivery and development.
    CREDITS
    Seismic Soundoff explores the depth and usefulness of geophysics for the scientific community and the public. If you want to be the first to know about the next episode, please follow or subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Two of our favorites are Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
    If you have episode ideas, feedback for the show, or want to sponsor a future episode, find the "Contact Seismic Soundoff" box at https://seg.org/podcast.
    Zach Bridges created original music for this show. Andrew Geary hosted, edited, and produced this episode at TreasureMint. The SEG podcast team is Jennifer Cobb, Kathy Gamble, and Ally McGinnis.
    26 min
  • 184: Water is Life - GWB Ghana Water Project
    Dr. Elikplim Abla Dzikunoo and Abdul Rashid Seidu discuss their Geoscientists without Borders project, "Provision of potable water to communities in northeastern Ghana."
    This GWB project will directly help the inhabitants of two communities (Zagsliari and Salinwia) located within the Nasia river basin in the West Mamprusi district – Northeastern region of Ghana. In Zagsliari, men, women, and children will all benefit from potable water. Children will especially benefit as the current water supplies in the community expose them to diseases like cholera and dysentery. In Salinwia, families will profit greatly from the provision of boreholes, enabling them to engage in year-round irrigation farming to improve their economic fortunes and sustenance for themselves and their livestock.
    This was done by using Electrical Resistivity Tomography techniques to define and interpret geo-electric sections and models to show the subsurface lithology distribution and provide scientific data that will inform groundwater management policy decision-making and improve access to potable water resources by the communities of the study area. To build on the knowledge of the area's geology and offer a better understanding of the underlying complexities, lithologic logging was done during drilling, followed by geophysical logging after drilling, which offers improved resolutions of the subsurface geologic complexities.
    In this conversation with host Andrew Geary, Elikplim and Rashid explain why groundwater is of growing importance in the "food basket of Ghana" as rainwater gets more difficult to predict. Elikplim highlights the value of combining community knowledge with scientifically-tested methods to be successful. Rashid explores why groundwater has been an overlooked resource in Ghana. And they both discuss the importance of respecting the culture where scientific work occurs.
    While the audio quality at times is not ideal, please give this episode a listen from beginning to end if you can. This is a powerful story on the power of geophysics, how to gain support from local communities, and the difference science can make in people's lives.
    Listen to the full archive at https://seg.org/podcast.
    RELATED LINKS
    * Learn more about the Ghana water project (https://seg.org/About-SEG/Geoscientists-Without-Borders/Projects/detail/ghana-2)
    * Learn more about Geoscientists without Borders (https://seg.org/About-SEG/Geoscientists-Without-Borders)
    * Donate to GWB (https://seg.org/About-SEG/Geoscientists-Without-Borders/Donate)
    * Explore the Geophysical Sustainability Atlas that maps geophysics to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (https://library.seg.org/doi/10.1190/tle40010010.1)
    BIOGRAPHIES
    Dr. Elikplim Abla Dzikunoo is a geologist specializing in the applications of near-surface and borehole geophysics for use in hydrogeological studies and the interpretation of airborne data for structural and lithologic delineations. She is currently a lecturer in the Department of Earth Science, University of Ghana, teaching geophysics and GIS/RS-related courses.
    Abdul Rashid Seidu is a final-year geophysics student at the University of Ghana. Being a young, aspiring geophysicist, he had the privilege of participating in many geophysical programs that have sharpened and expanded his knowledge of geophysics, particularly exploratory geophysics.
    CREDITS
    Zach Bridges created original music for this show. Andrew Geary hosted, edited, and produced this episode at TreasureMint. The SEG podcast team is Jennifer Cobb, Kathy Gamble, and Ally McGinnis.
    28 min

About Seismic Soundoff

From the publisher's feed

Seismic Soundoff showcases conversations addressing the challenges of energy, water, and climate. Produced by the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) and hosted by Andrew Geary of 51 features,…

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