114: The future of learning and nonseismic

Dr. Michal Ruder discusses continuing education and her new course, Gravity and Magnetics for Explorationists. In this forward-thinking conversation, Michal shares the most important thing for explorationists to focus on right now, what she would say to the CEO of an oil and gas company, the future of GIS data for exploration, and the importance of nonseismic work in geophysics. As the world transitions to more forms of hybrid learning, this episode will help provide clarity and direction in your continuing education. Visit https://seg.org/podcast for the complete show notes BIOGRAPHY Michal Ruder received her AB cum laude from Bowdoin College with a joint major in geology and physics in 1979. In 1986, she was awarded a Ph.D. in geophysics from The Pennsylvania State University. Her work experience spans government, academic, and industrial research and exploration laboratories. While at NASA during graduate school, she analyzed satellite gravity and magnetic data from the Seasat and Magsat missions. Michal joined the (nonseismic) Other Geophysical Methods Group at Exxon Production Research Company in 1986. Her research emphasized the integration of seismic, gravity, magnetic, and electromagnetic techniques. In 1988, Michal was invited to be a visiting professor at the Institut de Geodynamique at the Universite de Bordeaux III in Bordeaux, France, where she designed and taught a curriculum of remote sensing and image processing. Upon returning to the United States, Michal founded Wintermoon Geotechnologies, a value-added consulting firm that performs state-of-the-art integrated analysis of geophysical and GIS data for exploration purposes. Michal continues to design new techniques for modeling, interpreting and integrating gravity, magnetic, and remote sensing data with seismic and well log information for industry clients in geologic settings around the world. She serves as president and chief geophysicist. Her professional affiliations include SEG, where she is a member of the CE and Gravity and Magnetics Committees as well as a past-Second Vice President, and several local geoscience organizations. Michal joined the SEG Continuing Education faculty in 1994. She designed the Gravity and Magnetics for Explorationists course at the request of the Society. Michal continues to update and enhance the material annually, presenting both in-house and public courses every year. SPONSOR This episode is sponsored by TGS. TGS offers a wide range of energy data and insights to meet the industry where it’s at and where it’s headed. TGS provides scientific data and intelligence to companies active in the energy sector. In addition to a global, extensive and diverse energy data library, TGS offers specialized services such as advanced processing and analytics alongside cloud-based data applications and solutions. Visit https://www.tgs.com to learn more. 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.