Introduction to Sage

The Concept

SAGE, the Summer of Applied Geophysical Experience,is a unique educational program designed to introduce students in geophysics and related fields to "hands on" geophysical exploration and research.

The program emphasizes both teaching of field methods and research related to basic and applied problems.

The Overview

Field Environment

The field area in northern New Mexico provides a stimulating environment to study the structure and tectonics of the Rio Grande rift as well as smaller-scale environmental and hydrologic problems.		Co-director, W. Scott Baldridge, describes outcropping rock relationships. SAGE aims to image the hidden subsurface by geophysical methods using constraints imposed by the known geology.

Industry

Industry affiliates have become an integral part of SAGE providing modern equipment and the latest software. Industry visitors allow students to experience and interact with working geophysicists.

ARCO crew member George Clark explains seismic recording system.	Hans Rasmussen, Kennecott Mining, discusses the finer points of transient electromagnetic sounding.	Peter Annan, President of Sensors and Software, oversees collection of ground penetrating radar data at environmental site.	SAGE students setup controlled source audiomagnetotelluric antennas for system provided by Geometrics Inc.

Data Processing

SAGE is not just about using equipment; it's about understanding what the equipment is measuring, and how to make sense of it. Students work in teams to process the field data, model it with computers, and present their findings in written and oral form. This is done with guidance from SAGE faculty, teaching assistants, and visitors in more of a co-worker environment compared to most university classes.

SAGE students process seismic data with guidance from SAGE faculty member Larry Braile and Chevron's Chief Geophysicist Matt Mikalich.	Geoelectric model of Valles Caldera region obtained using SAGE magnetotelluric data.	SAGE students model magnetotelluric data on SPARC workstation donated by Sun Microsystems.

Student oral presentations follow the format of a professional meeting and are a fitting finale to SAGE.	SAGE students ponder over seismic records.

What Students Say

SAGE, the Summer of Applied Geophysical Experience, is a unique educational program designed to introduce students in geophysics and related fields to "hands on" geophysical exploration and research.

The program emphasizes both teaching of field methods and research related to basic and applied problems. Here are a few comments from past SAGE participants.

"SAGE put me on solid footing for my last two years of (undergraduate) college." (Rowena Lohman, Caltech, SAGE 1996)

"When I returned from the exciting summer in New Mexico, I hastened my search for graduate schools and I am attempting to graduate a year early so I can move on to research in graduate school." (Marty Terrell, State University of New York - Fredonia)

"You've Fourier transformed my life." (Bella Desai, Yale University, SAGE 1997)

SAGE "is to budding geophysicists the equivalent of an immersion course in a foreign language for a diplomat." (Geophysics - The Leading Edge of Exploration, March, 1991)