FIELD GEOPHYSICS EDUCATION AT SAGE - LEARNING GEOPHYSICS BY DOING GEOPHYSICS

SAGE (Summer of Applied Geophysical Experience) is a unique program of education and research in geophysical field methods for undergraduate and graduate students and selected professionals. SAGE is supported by the Los Alamos National Laboratory, the Dept. of Energy, the NSF REU program, the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, the US Geological Survey, industrial partners, and the participating universities. Since SAGE was initiated in 1983, 676 students have participated in the program. The core program is held for four weeks each summer in New Mexico and for an additional week in January at a follow-up workshop for U.S. undergraduates supported by NSF. Each year approximately 25-30 students participate in SAGE after being selected from a wide range of large and small colleges and universities. The primary goal of SAGE is to actively involve students in all phases of exciting, applied geophysics using modern field equipment and computer processing/interpretation tools. The program teaches digital acquisition, theory and methods of exploration geophysics, and team-based interpretation of results using computer modeling. Techniques taught are seismic reflection and refraction, potential field methods (gravity and magnetics), electrical and electromagnetic methods, and high resolution GPS surveying. Geophysical field applications include extensional tectonics, basin analysis, environmental remediation, archeology, and hydrogeology. A two-level team approach has proven to be a very effective learning and research strategy. Students are organized into: (1) “technique teams” in which they concentrate on an individual geophysical method, e.g., seismic reflection and refraction, gravity, transient electromagnetics, or magnetotellurics; and (2) “integration teams,” in which a student representing each technique joins others to integrate their collective results. All students complete SAGE by orally presenting their focused research results to the entire group and by writing a scientific report. Student evaluations are used to assess the program’s effectiveness and make improvements. The success of the program is also reflected in the high rate of SAGE undergraduates continuing on to graduate school, and in the accomplishments of former SAGE students in careers in industry, academia and government laboratories.