Will Assume Office at 2018 Annual Meeting
Robert Stewart, Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished University Chair in Exploration Geophysics at the 葫芦影业, was selected as president-elect of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) by its active members worldwide.
With more than 27,000 members in 128 countries, SEG members range from industry professionals
to academic researchers. Many members, including Stewart, have careers that have spanned
the resource sector as well as university and governmental communities.
鈥淚鈥檓 elated to have been elected and excited to further serve the profession of exploration geophysics as it strives to support economic prosperity, understanding of the Earth, and humanitarian outreach,鈥 Stewart said.
After Stewart spends a year serving on the SEG Board as president-elect, he will assume the office of president at the 2018 SEG Annual Meeting in Anaheim, California. After his term as president, he will serve an additional year as past-president.
During these three years, Stewart will be part of the Executive Committee and Board, with responsibilities in outreach and education, strategic and business planning, and collaborations with other associations and groups.
Adapting to Serve Evolving Needs of Members
Stewart鈥檚 election comes at a time when applied geophysics is facing challenges due to the economic downturn in the oil and gas industry. One of SEG鈥檚 challenges is to ensure that it serves the ever-evolving professional interests and needs of its members. Especially important are networking opportunities, continuing education, and connection to advances and best practices in applied geophysics.
鈥淲e have been extensively surveying our members and the communities which they serve,鈥 Stewart said. 鈥淲hat do they need? We see opportunities for further partnerships with other Societies and agencies, advancing our members鈥 mobility and qualifications, introducing geophysics to other economic and scientific sectors.鈥
Versatility of Exploration Geophysics
Stewart鈥檚 career has included positions as an energy company employee, a small business owner, and a professor of geophysics, joining the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics in 2008. He is enthusiastic about using this broad experience to help guide decisions and activities in his role with SEG. He is well placed to do so having received the SEG鈥檚 Distinguished Educator Award and UH鈥檚 Teaching Excellence Award.
鈥淎s geophysicists, we鈥檙e keen to explore for almost anything,鈥 Stewart said. 鈥淕eophysics is valuable for discovering and recovering resources 鈥 that includes fresh water for drinking, lithium for batteries, even diamonds for rings 鈥 as well as harvesting hydrocarbons,鈥 he continued. 鈥淏ut, more and more, we also see our role in understanding and mitigating natural hazards and disasters in addition to assisting with designing and protecting infrastructure.鈥 He added, 鈥淭he training and viewpoint of a geophysicist is quite adaptable.鈥
What Does the Future Hold for Geophysics?
鈥淲e are looking to the future 鈥 which is always tricky 鈥 but are guided by the SEG鈥檚 mission to inspire, connect, and propel the people and science of applied geophysics,鈥 Stewart explained. 鈥淲hat resources will society need? How will we generate energy for 8 billion people? Where will geophysics be useful? We are trying to answer these questions and shape our organization to respond to these scientific, professional, and economic demands of our members and society. We鈥檙e committed to contributing, and I look forward to an exciting three years.鈥
- Rachel Fairbank, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics