Seismic Soundoff

"That’s what we’re trying to achieve with this forum: bringing all the people together with different backgrounds and create this community, which I don’t think fully exists right now.”

Jiajia Sun and Nadine Veillette preview SEG’s first Critical Minerals Forum for the mining community in North America. Critical minerals are becoming more important to energy systems, supply chains, and public policy, but finding them still depends on difficult subsurface decisions. The conversation shows why geophysics matters when it is integrated with geology, geochemistry, drilling, and uncertainty. For students and working geophysicists, this is a growing area where technical skill, communication, and practical decision-making all matter.

Learn more about the Critical Minerals Forum at https://seg.org/calendar_events/critical-minerals-forum/.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
> Integration is now central to critical mineral exploration: Geophysics is most useful when it helps test geological ideas, reduce uncertainty, and guide better decisions about where to collect data or drill.
> Mining creates a different mindset for geophysicists: Compared with oil and gas, mineral exploration often works with sparser drilling, smaller budgets, and more variable geological systems.
> Critical minerals are opening new career paths: The field needs geophysicists who can combine imaging, inversion, AI, geology, communication, and decision-focused workflows.

ABOUT SEISMIC SOUNDOFF
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, these episodes celebrate and inspire the geophysicists of today and tomorrow. Three new episodes monthly. See the full archive at https://seg.org/resources/podcast/.

"I feel like we are making a change in the way that people now see the volcanoes and see the earthquakes in El Salvador. So in that sense, I think we are making a a big change.”

Adonay Martinez Coto and Susana Delgado discuss their Geoscientists Without Borders project to improve seismic monitoring around Santa Ana volcano in El Salvador. Their work shows how geophysics can move beyond instruments and data to help communities understand hazards, prepare for future activity, and see science as part of daily life. The project also shows why community-centered geophysics matters: instruments in schools and local spaces can turn monitoring into education, awareness, and preparedness. For listeners, it is a clear example of how applied geoscience can serve people before the next disaster happens.

LINKS
* Learn more about GWB and donate today at https://seg.org/programs/geoscientists-without-borders/
* Learn more about Adonay and Susana's work at https://seg.org/gwb_projects/el-salvador/

KEY TAKEAWAYS
> Community trust is part of the science: Volcano monitoring becomes more valuable when schools, local businesses, agencies, and residents understand why the instruments are there and how the data can help them.
> Better data can change preparedness: A stronger seismic network near Santa Ana volcano can help scientists distinguish between tectonic and volcanic earthquakes, improving awareness of what may be happening beneath the surface.
> Field geophysics requires more than technical training: The project pushed students to learn instrumentation, networking, communication, and community engagement, showing where future workforce needs are growing.

ABOUT SEISMIC SOUNDOFF
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, these episodes celebrate and inspire the geophysicists of today and tomorrow. Three new episodes monthly. See the full archive at https://seg.org/resources/podcast/.

“If you're curious about geophysics, there's definitely a place in geophysics for you. The field is so interdisciplinary.”

Johanna Villagomez joins Andrew Geary to share how curiosity, fieldwork, student leadership, and outreach are shaping her path as a PhD student in geophysics at the University of Houston. Her story shows why applied geophysics matters now: the field connects directly to water, energy, climate, critical minerals, and the decisions communities make about the subsurface.

For students, she makes the field feel open and reachable, while also being honest about the skills that matter most, including coding, fundamentals, communication, and collaboration. As AI, larger datasets, and new sensing tools change the profession, the future belongs to geophysicists who can understand the science and explain why it matters.

Explore SEG student programs to find scholarships, mentorship, student chapters, and opportunities to build your path in geophysics at https://seg.org/programs/student-programs/.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
> Fieldwork creates ownership: Collecting seismic data in the field gives students a deeper connection to the full geophysical workflow, from instruments to interpretation.
> AI raises the value of fundamentals: Coding and machine learning matter, but geophysicists still need strong quantitative skills to know when an answer is wrong.
> Communication is a technical skill: Whether speaking to policymakers, students, or other geophysicists, clear explanations help science reach the people who need it.

ABOUT SEISMIC SOUNDOFF
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, these episodes celebrate and inspire the geophysicists of today and tomorrow. Three new episodes monthly. See the full archive at https://seg.org/resources/podcast/.

"Integration, literally, that's why the URTeC is successful.”

Marianne Rauch joins Andrew Geary to explain why URTeC 2026 matters for geophysicists who want their work to shape real field decisions. She argues that the event’s strength is integration: geology, geophysics, drilling, production, land, service companies, and operators in the same place. That matters now because unconventional development is increasingly driven by better data, AI, cost pressure, and the need to connect technical products to practical outcomes. For students and early-career professionals, the message is direct: broader knowledge can create better ideas, better collaboration, and stronger career options.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
> Integration drives impact: Geophysical work matters most when engineers, geologists, and production teams understand how to use it in real decisions.
> Application is the opportunity: URTeC gives geophysicists a practical view of how seismic attributes, rock properties, pressure estimates, and other products influence drilling and production
> AI needs physics and judgment: Emerging tools may change how teams choose locations, drill wells, and manage production, but Marianne warns that AI cannot be trusted blindly.

LINKS
* Learn more about URTeC -> https://urtec.org/2026/
* Register for the event (22-24 June 2026, Houston, TX, USA) -> https://platform.tpni.com/GcmMaintenance/aapg/Html_Files/30000107/landing.html

ABOUT SEISMIC SOUNDOFF
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, these episodes celebrate and inspire the geophysicists of today and tomorrow. Three new episodes monthly. See the full archive at https://seg.org/resources/podcast/.

“The concept of mapping the aquifer from the sky, that’s gigantic. It could change how aquifers are managed around the world.”

Seogi Kang and Mike Wilt explain why groundwater is becoming one of the most important growth areas in applied geophysics. As drought, population growth, and water demand increase, geophysicists are being asked harder questions about where water is stored and how aquifers can be managed more sustainably. They share how airborne EM, well data, and machine learning are helping researchers see the subsurface in new ways, while also admitting that turning more data into better decisions is still a major challenge. For students and working geophysicists, this field offers both urgent problems and growing career opportunities.

Read the March 2026 special section, "Advances in geophysics for groundwater applications," at https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/tle/issue/45/3.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
> Groundwater is becoming a bigger challenge for geophysics: More communities need better answers about where water is stored, how aquifers connect, and how to manage them before shortages grow worse.
> Better tools do not automatically mean better decisions: Airborne EM, well logs, and machine learning can improve subsurface understanding, but combining those datasets into something people trust is still difficult.
> This field needs more geophysicists: Groundwater applications are growing quickly, creating opportunities for students and professionals who want to work on problems with direct public impact.

ABOUT SEISMIC SOUNDOFF
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, these episodes celebrate and inspire the geophysicists of today and tomorrow. Three new episodes monthly. See the full archive at https://seg.org/resources/podcast/.