116: Addressing grand challenges with geophysics

David Lumley highlights two of SEG's Strategic Pillars and the geophysicists' role in supporting space exploration and the medical field. In this illuminating conversation, David outlines how geophysics supports the grand challenges of our world, how geophysics could quantitatively contribute to the medical field, how universities and companies could encourage greater collaboration, and a valuable tip to become a better innovator. This conversation will help jump-start your knowledge on how geophysics can keep innovating and improving this world and beyond. Visit https://seg.org/podcast for the complete show notes. BIOGRAPHY David Lumley is noted for his pioneering work in the area of 4D seismic monitoring. He is currently the Cecil and Ida Green Endowed Chair in Geophysics and the director of Seismic Imaging and Inversion Lab at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD). His expertise is wave-theoretic Seismology, especially 3D imaging, 4D time-lapse monitoring, and Inversion estimation of physical properties in the earth. His research involves seismic wavefield data that are (continuously) recorded with 'Large N' sensor arrays, generated by seismic sources that are manmade, or natural (micro)earthquakes and ambient noise. Applications include subsurface energy resources and fluid flow, carbon sequestration, and natural/induced seismicity; at scales ranging from near-surface to reservoir, crust/mantle, and plate tectonics. A native of Vancouver, British Columbia, Lumley received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in geophysics and astronomy from the University of British Columbia, and his Ph.D. in geophysics from Stanford University. He currently serves on the SEG Board of Directors and received the J. Clarence Karcher Award in 1996. SPONSOR This episode is sponsored by CGG. In 1931 - the year after Neil Armstrong was born and just three years after the discovery of penicillin - CGG began its geophysics journey. In the subsequent 90 years, we have seen extraordinary changes across the world that have demanded adaptability and ingenuity so we can continue to help solve the world’s most complex natural resource, environmental, and infrastructure challenges. At CGG, we’re proud to be redefining what is possible by helping our clients to see things differently at https://www.cgg.com/. CREDITS Original music by Zach Bridges. This episode was hosted, edited, and produced by Andrew Geary at 51 features, LLC. Thank you to the SEG podcast team: Ted Bakamjian, Dylan Fehrle, Ally McGinnis, and Mick Swiney.