SEG and SPG India agree to cooperate
in operating Mumbai office

18 November—SEG president Fred Aminzadeh and Society of Petroleum Geophysicists (SPG), India president Apurba Saha signed a memorandum of agreement between the two societies on 11 September at SEG’s Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, USA, for the establishment of a jointly operated program office, SEG India, to be located in Mumbai.

Larry Lines, Fred Aminzadeh, Apurba Saha, and Mary Fleming at the signing
At the signing: (from left) 2008–2009 SEG president Larry Lines, 2007–2008 SEG president Fred Aminzadeh, SPG India president Apurba Saha, and SEG executive director Mary Fleming.

The historic agreement is the first time either organization has entered into such an arrangement with another society and reflects the confidence both societies have in the future of geophysics and earth science in the region. SPG India is the country’s leading professional earth science society with 9 chapters and more than 1200 members nationwide. In addition to better serving the interests of mutual constituents, the office is intended to support professional development programs both in India and regionally, facilitate the distribution of publications, contribute to improved university and student relations, assist with the operation of conferences and meetings, and act as a catalyst for new programs and activities in this vital market area.

Discussions on the operating details of the office are expected to be completed early in 2009 with an official opening to follow soon after. SEG and SPG India have a long history of cooperation and anticipate that this new effort will contribute to a steady deepening and strengthening of relations between the two societies.

As the world’s pre-eminent geophysical professional society, SEG leads in the areas of publications, university and student programs, technical conferences, meetings, and continuing education. With more than 30 000 members globally, the Society recently opened SEG China, a regional office in Beijing, and is moving forward to establish a global network of offices to respond to significant growth in membership and core activities.