Mines SEG Hackton team members from left, Leon Foks, Thomas Rapstine, Elias Arias, Chris Graziano, Andy McAliley, Colton Kohnke

GOLDEN, Colo., Nov. 3, 2015 –Mines geophysics students dominated the 3rd Annual Geophysics Hackathon at the recent Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) Annual Meeting in New Orleans.

For the second year in a row, Mines students reaped prizes including geophysics tech gear such as oscilloscopes and Arduino computers. The students were challenged to combine geophysics and machine learning in any way they wished, developing all of the code over the course of the two-day event. At the end of the second day, the students presented their prototypes to the judging panel consisting of industry guests and representatives from company sponsors.

Mines sent two teams; Team 1 included graduate students Chris Graziano and Elias Arias along with doctoral student Thomas Rapstine, all part of the Center for Wave Phenomena. Team 2 was made up of graduate student Colton Kohnke (with Electromagnetic Resource Exploration Group), and doctoral students Leon Foks and Andy McAliley (with the Center for Gravity, Electrical, and Magnetic Studies.) Ben Bougher (UBC, Agile Science), Yingwei Yu (IHS Energy), and geologist Justin Gosses were also part of the team. Geophysics seniors Abby Michel and Alicia Johnson were present as well, showing their support as spectators. 

The SEG Hackathon provides a unique opportunity for geoscientists, particularly those who enjoy programming, to come together, network, and build relationships. To learn more and see photos from the 2015 Hackathon, see this blog.

Contact:
Agata Bogucka, Information Specialist, College of Earth Resource Sciences & Engineering | 303-384-2657 | abogucka@mines.edu
Karen Gilbert, Director of Public Relations, Colorado School of Mines | 303-273-3541 | kgilbert@mines.edu