What is it about?
My career as a geophysicist started during an exciting time in oil and gas. In the United States, energy security was threatened, and exploration budgets were high; the industry was acquiring new types of geophysical data; and, computer technology changed how we used geophysical data in exploration. More women were entering geophysics, where we were often seen as "anomalies." In my field (gravity and magnetics exploration, colloquially called "grav-mag"), computer mapping and modeling helped us integrate grav-mag data directly into exploration workflows. Changes in computer technology redefined the necessary skills and tools for exploration geophysicists, creating new opportunities for everyone.
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Why is it important?
By reflecting on the cultural, economic, and technological changes over the last four decades, we can measure progress and share advice on how to build resilient careers.
Perspectives
This article started as a memoir piece. It will be of interest to people in the energy industry, geophysicists, computer scientists, women in science, and anyone interested in the 1980's.
Elizabeth Johnson
Retired
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The Meter Reader—The tools of the trade in gravity and magnetics, 1978–1988, The Leading Edge, September 2025, Society of Exploration Geophysicists,
DOI: 10.1190/tle44090738.1.
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