ASEG Research Foundation

Goal

To attract high-calibre students into exploration geophysics, and thus to ensure a future supply of talented, highly-skilled geophysicists for industry.

Strategy

To promote research in Applied Geophysics, by providing research grants at the BSc(Honours), MSc, and PhD level (or equivalent).

Management

The ASEG RF Committee comprises ASEG members from mining, petroleum and academic backgrounds, who serve on an honorary basis, and who share the administrative costs to spare Research Foundation funds from operating charges.

Extended overview of the ASEG Research Foundation

The ASEG RF formally commenced its function in September, 1989, with the first projects supported in 1990. It was established to address the decline in student enrolments in exploration geophysics which is no doubt part of the apparent worldwide declining interest in science. The overall aim of the ASEG RF is to attract high calibre students into exploration geophysics and thus ensure a future supply of talented, highly skilled, geophysicists for industry.

The ASEG RF achieves its aim by promoting research in applied geophysics specifically by providing research grants at the B.Sc.(Hons.) and M.Sc level or equivalent. The ASEG RF Committee has now decided to extend support to Ph.D. projects. The grants are paid directly to the relevant Australian University departments to cover field or laboratory expenses associated with the project. Grants are not provided as student scholarships in order to preserve the tax deductibility status of donations.

ASEG members from mining and petroleum as well as from academia serve on an honorary basis on the ASEG RF Committee. The current committee members are listed below. All administrative costs are borne by the committee members and no ASEG RF funds are used for operating expenses. At the recent annual meeting of the ASEG RF Committee new office bearers were elected as a result of the retirement of its first Chairman, Bob Smith. Joe Cucuzza, research co-ordinator at AMIRA and formerly the Secretary, was elected as the new Chairman, while Nigel Hungerford was elected as vice- Chairman. Doug Roberts from Boral Energy was elected to take over as Secretary. Peter Priest will continue to support the ASEG RF as Treasurer.

The ASEG RF can only carry on its work through the generous donations from individuals and companies. The ASEG has provided a significant contribution in the past and we hope will continue to do so in the future. The SEG has also made a contribution and has been invited to do so again. Although it is our hope that the ASEG RF will eventually have a sustainable funding base through interest earned on its capital we still rely heavily on donations to ensure that we can support four to five worthy projects per year at the B.Sc. or M.Sc. level. We therefore like to encourage individual ASEG members, companies and other Institutions with an interest in exploration geophysics to make a donation to the ASEG RF. We encourage contributions of $5,000 per annum from major companies or lesser amounts from smaller companies, Institutions and individuals. All contributions are fully acknowledged in Preview. Furthermore, since the ASEG RF is an Approved Research Institute, all contributions are fully tax deductible.