Houston 2009 Annual Meeting
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The SEG Foundation makes a global impact with new programs and outreach
Linda Holeman, Associate Editor, The Leading Edge
Students from across the globe received hands-on training in exploration geophysics through the SEG Student Education program, a joint venture made possible by the SEG Foundation and ExxonMobil.
It’s hard to quantify the impact of inspiration, hope, and change—yet this is exactly what SEG Foundation donors have delivered to virtually every corner of the globe. From Colorado to a remote coastal village in Honduras; from a small university in Canada to Azerbaijan, the SEG Foundation has made education, travel, research, and leadership training not only available, but also possible.
Bill Barkhouse, former SEG president and past Foundation campaign chair, says he is constantly amazed and humbled by the life-changing impact the Foundation has made with students, the profession, and through its humanitarian outreach throughout the world.
Through the generosity of its donors, the Foundation has met challenges like the need for technology and training in the geoscience profession, and environmental problems and the need for clean drinking water in communities all over the world with programs for:
Students: The Foundation’s flagship scholarship program and summer field camp grants encourage talented youth to choose a career in geoscience industries. Student leadership development programs, such as the SEG/Chevron Student Leadership Symposium (SLS) and the SEG/ExxonMobil Student Education Program (SEP), transform today’s students into tomorrow’s industry leaders.
Practicing geophysicists: Professional development programs, like the Distinguished Lecturer (DL) and the Honorary Lecturer (HL) series, help geoscientists expand their body of knowledge and perform the crucial research needed to tackle today’s complex exploration challenges. And through SEG Online, the Foundation is increasing the rate of technological innovation and making it easier to share knowledge whenever and wherever SEG members need it.
The world: Humanitarian applications of geoscience, through its groundbreaking Geoscientists Without Borders (GWB) program, bring together brilliant minds from industry and universities to solve environmental and humanitarian problems. In just one year, this program has funded five projects that will solve water usage problems and help remote areas cope with potential dangers from seismic activity. (For a fascinating and moving account of one such project, check out this blog, written by Clemson University student Dan Matz. He provides a day-by-day account of a GWB-funded project to address the water crisis in rural India.)
A long history of success
Vertical evacuation structures designed to provide refuge during a tsunami are the focus of a Geoscientists Without Borders project in Sumatra.
The SEG Foundation is grounded in a tradition spanning 50 years, when the Society of Exploration Geophysicists awarded its first scholarships in 1956. Two years later, SEG formed a trust to ensure that scholarships would be available to the world’s best and brightest geoscience students in perpetuity. In the late 1980s, SEG took a giant leap forward and formed the SEG Foundation. Initially propelled by the hard work of our volunteer Trustee Associates, the SEG Foundation is now a professionally managed organization that raises and distributes funds to invest in the programs of SEG and the broader needs of the geophysical community. As a 501(c)(3) supporting organization of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, the SEG Foundation is addressing the needs of the general public, geoscientists, and the broader geophysical community. Through its innovative programs and ongoing support of geoscientists worldwide, the SEG Foundation is Advancing Geophysics Today and Inspiring Geoscientists for Tomorrow.
You can make a difference
The SEG Foundation has been fortunate to receive support from leading corporations, but individual contributions are a vital and necessary component of the Foundation. And it’s easy to contribute—the Foundation has established three donor “clubs” that individuals can join that will ensure its continued success:
Doodlebugger Society: This donor club, inspired by SEG’s success in members helping members, draws upon the colorful history of geophysics for its name. Contributions of US$50 to $999 support the SEG Foundation general operating fund, which is the backbone of all Foundation programs. Students may participate with a gift of US$25 or more.
High Velocity: This new distinguished donor club evokes the technical history of geophysics. High Velocity members choose their annual giving levels, starting at $1000, with higher levels at $2500 through $5000. Donors receive additional recognition and special opportunities to engage with the leadership of SEG and the Foundation. High Velocity contributions also support the SEG Foundation general operating fund.
Trustee Associates: All Doodlebugger and High Velocity gifts accumulate so that, over time, committed supporters of our Society earn recognition as Foundation Trustee Associates. The entry level of $10 000 can be achieved through a single gift or through multiple gifts over several years. The Foundation currently has 156 Trustee Associates, with individual investment levels ranging from $10 000 to $1 million.
Contributions at any level make a huge impact on the geophysical community, the world, and your profession. For a first-hand look at the Foundation’s far-reaching programs and for more information on how you can contribute, stop by the SEG Foundation’s booth in the SEG Pavilion, Hall D or visit our Web site.
