Faculty Advisors share successes, challenges at second annual Faculty Advisor Workshop By Chris Posey  Participants in the Second Annual Faculty Advisor Workshop gathered on Sunday, 17 October during the Society of Exploration Geophysicists International Exposition and 80th Annual Meeting with one goal in mind: to build and strengthen a global network of academic leaders in the field of geophysics. As the workshop opened, SEG President Steve Hill echoed this sentiment in asserting that "a key piece of chapter success is their advisors." Following Hill's opening remarks, Candice Chinsethagid, SEG University and Student Programs Manager, provided a thorough overview of the benefits available to Faculty Advisors and their student chapters. These benefits include, among other things: One important new benefit available to Faculty Advisors is the Free Student Chapter Book Program.Through this program, which is sponsored by Fred and Kathi Hilterman and Geokinetics, new SEG books are shipped at no cost to student chapters. SEG also provides student chapters with up to $10,000 to use for projects that further professional development in the field of geophysics. In addition, SEG provides scholarship monies for students involved with geophysics. Since 1956, SEG has awarded over US$5 million through more than 4,000 scholarships. Chinsethagid concluded her remarks by encouraging Faculty Advisors to become involved with SEG through its Committee for University and Student Programs (CUSP), SEG's Research Committee, and its Travel Grant Committee. Four Faculty Advisors then shared presentations on "Best Practices." Summaries of each presentation follow: - Greg Moore, Professor, Marine Geophysics and Chair, Department of Geology & Geophysics, and Faculty Advisor for the University of Hawaii Geophysical Society discussed a number of successful projects in which his chapter had participated, including a UHGS-sponsored exploration trip to Goat Island, Oahu. Moore spoke at length about the chapter's research vessel and its use in research around the Mahukona volcano and among a group of small islands northeast of Oahu, a project that will continue into 2011. The chapter is supported by software partnerships with Schlumberger, Paradigm, and Haliburton. In addition, several students in the UHGS have been supported by SEG Scholarships.
- Cícero Régis of the Universidade de Federal de Para (UFPA) provided a thorough history of UFPA and discussed his chapter's participation in SEG-sponsored lectures and school visits. His chapter also took part in a number of geophysical events, including first-time participation in the SEG Challenge Bowl. Peter Pangman, SEG Director, SEG Foundation, congratulated Régis on the success of his chapter, noting that he saw in Régis' chapter what he considered to be the best example of a department a student chapter that was reaching out to local secondary school students.
- Eugenio Asencio of the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez shared his methods of society promotion among his students, as well as the challenges he faced as a Faculty Advisor. Asencio, Faculty Advisor of the largest research and earth science department in the Caribbean region, spoke of his success in grooming his chapter by encouraging his own students to take part in SEG programs such as the SEG/ExxonMobil Student Education Program, the SEG/Chevron Student Leadership Symposium, and SEG's Projects of Special Merit. His primary challenge: the ebb and flow of student members.
- Ali Abdel Aati of the CESS Student Chapter of Assiut University rounded out the Faculty Advisor presentations with a glance at the success of his student chapter, accomplishments which include the conducting of a ground magnetic survey in North Sinai; a one-day seminar in which SEG Honorary Lecturer Samir Abdelmoaty lectured about multi azimuth seismic in the Nile Delta; the posting of two geophysics-promoting showcases on his campus; and conference participation.
During the second half of the FAW, Faculty Advisors were given a thorough overview of SEG Research Committees. Faculty Advisors then broke up into groups and engaged in small group discussions with Research Committee (RC) members. Discussion topics included: - What can the RC (SEG) do for local sections or universities?
- What can local sections do for the RC?
Faculty Advisors also had the opportunity to introduce new discussion topics, and each group was asked to begin defining 2011 workshops. Advisors shared the results of their group discussions and then took time for questions and answers about discussion specifics. The FAW concluded with distribution books proved through the SEG Student Chapter Book Program, one of the most valuable resources SEG provides to local student chapters. Click here for event photos Related Annual Meeting News: | | | |
