SEG Annual Meeting Sets Precedent for the Society’s Future Events
Tulsa, Oklahoma (PRWEB) November 12, 2014 -- The Society of Exploration Geophysicists unveiled a plethora of experience-enhancing features during the SEG International Exposition and 84th Annual Meeting held 26-31 October in Denver, Colorado.
Technology improvements included a concurrent virtual trade show, with live online streaming of more than 300 technical sessions, facilitating participation by geoscientists worldwide as well as on site. Session recordings and the virtual trade show will be available for the next six months. Other new services included an on-site exhibitor-rebooking booth for the 2015 SEG Annual Meeting in New Orleans, self-serve kiosks for check-in and badge printing, and onsite child care.
"It was time we reacted to both industry advances and the requests of our attendees,” said Melanie McGuire, SEG’s new Senior Manager of Conventions and Meetings Operations. "We worked hard to add a host of enhancements and features for our attendees, near and far. We want our members to know we are listening to them and appreciate their input and support.”
Attendee count in Denver was 8,540 industry professionals, academicians, students, and exhibitors from 72 countries. The exhibition included 373 booths covering 143,800 square feet of floor space, nearly equal to the record 144,100 square feet of exhibition space for the 2013 SEG Annual Meeting in Houston.
A digital exhibition floor plan for the 2015 SEG Annual Meeting enabled exhibitors to view their placement in real time as they booked space. More than 85 percent of Denver exhibitors rebooked for the New Orleans meeting, scheduled 18-23 October 2015. Eighty-nine percent of exhibitors expressed high satisfaction with the rebooking process, according to an onsite survey. The expedited, kiosk-enhanced registration process drew 97 percent attendee approval, according to the same survey.
This was the first year SEG provided child care for the children of its attendees, an initiative of the SEG’s Women’s Networking Committee. A Members-Only Reception was also added to the program to introduce the Society’s new Member Services manager, Diane Pressel, and emphasize SEG’s renewed commitment to its members and Annual Meeting attendees.
These new dimensions of the SEG Annual Meeting were reflections of the conference’s theme—“Connect. Inspire. Propel. Climb.”
The Technical Program drew a record 1,600+ submissions, from which approximately 1,000 were selected for presentation in poster, oral, and oral discussion/e-poster sessions on a variety of topics ranging from marine environmental issues and processing innovations to advances in migration and anisotropy. In addition, the technical program was complemented by 16 continuing-education courses; a daylong Distinguished Instructor Short Course (DISC) by Shawn Maxwell titled “Microseismic Imaging of Hydraulic Fracturing: Improved Engineering of Unconventional Shale Reservoirs;” 21 post-convention workshops; and multiple technical and regional luncheons.
Rutt Bridges chaired the SEG Forum that focused on technological and innovation challenges facing the oil and gas industry. The Annual Meeting’s regional focus was Pacific/Asia; activities included a special global session dedicated to geophysics in the area and an international reception celebrating the region’s SEG Sections and Associated Societies.
There was a 31 percent increase in the growth of sponsors and sponsorship revenue at this year’s meeting compared with last year.
For more information on SEG 2015 in New Orleans, please contact Melanie McGuire at mmcquire(at)seg(dot)org or visit http://www.seg.org/am.
About SEG
The Society of Exploration Geophysicists, the international society of applied geophysics, is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the science of geophysics and the education of applied geophysicists. SEG exists to connect, inspire, and propel the people and science of geophysics. The society fosters the expert and ethical practice of geophysics in the exploration and development of natural resources, in characterizing the near surface, and in mitigating Earth hazards. With more than 32,000 members in 138 countries, SEG fulfills its mission through its publications, conferences, forums, educational opportunities, and multiple website resources.
Whitney Emerick, Society of Exploration Geophysicists, http://www.seg.org/gwb, +1 9184974628, [email protected]
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