Geoscientists Without Borders^® announces first projects

17 November 2008—India and Thailand will be the sites for the first two projects sponsored by the SEG Foundation's new Geoscientists Without Borders^® program. This exciting program, launched in early 2008, applies geophysical technology to the needs of people from all areas of the globe through targeted projects designed to tangibly impact the community around them. Much work has gone into launching the program, and the SEG Foundation is pleased to announce the very first projects selected for award. 

Gary Servos, Chairman of the SEG Foundation Board of Directors, described both the effort behind the program and the excitement of the announcement. "Geoscientists Without Borders^® was the dream of passionate, committed individuals in SEG, brought into reality with the key founding investment by Schlumberger," said Servos. "Keep your eye on this program because this is just the beginning, and I am proud to be a part of it."

Schlumberger, the founding supporter, provided one of the early investments in the SEG Foundation's Advancing Geophysics Today – Inspiring Geoscientists for Tomorrow fund-raising campaign in late 2007 with the specific goal of establishing Geoscientists Without Borders^®. Australia-based Santos has since provided further investment, strengthening the program's future prospects.

Both projects selected 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 useful and often critical use of geophysics to assist communities with significant needs for such basic resources as fresh water.

One of the initial projects will address the severe water crisis in rural India. Clemson University of the United States and the Foundation for Ecological Security (an India non-profit organization) will use electromagnetic induction to map soil moisture and shallow aquifers in the Salri watershed in the State of Madhya Pradesh, India. The scarcity of fresh water is a longstanding problem central India that impacts the health, productivity, and quality of life for millions of people. Even though the annual rainfall for the area is usually between 45 and 60 inches per year, most of it falls in only three months of the year. The goal of this project is to increase the water supply through water capture, storage, and usage management. Geoscientists Without Borders^® will provide tools and knowledge that will assist villagers in making water management decisions that will favorably impact water supply throughout the year. Stephen Moysey of Clemson University and Rangoori Ravindranath of the Foundation for Ecological Security will lead the efforts.

In northern Thailand, three distinct humanitarian efforts under one project are planned to mitigate earthquake hazards, address water quality issues, and preserve cultural heritage through archaeological mapping. Seismic, ground penetrating radar, electrical, gravity, and magnetic methods are to be used to address geotechnical problems in Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Boise State University of the United States in partnership with Chiang Mai University will advance humanitarian geophysics in Southeast Asia through a student-based approach, by teaching students geophysical skills that can be used in their home regions.

Undergraduate and graduate students, with the help of professionals and teachers, will gain hands-on experience with geophysical data acquisition, processing and interpretation, creating reports that address local environmental and engineering problems. Leading the effort are Lee Liberty and Kasper van Wijk of Boise State University, and Spencer Wood (retired from Boise State University), Dr. Fongsaward Singharajwarapan and Dr. Siriporn Chaisri of Chiang Mai University.

About the SEG Foundation
The SEG Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable not-for-profit organization that supports the educational mission of SEG. With a mission to advance geophysics today and inspire the geoscientists of tomorrow, the SEG Foundation supports many grant programs: scholarships, travel grants, field camp support, and projects of special merit. The Geoscientists Without Borders^® Committee expects to award projects twice each year.