About us
The Bay Area Geophysical Society (BAGS) was founded in 1962 to promote the science and practice of geophysics in the Bay Area, California. The BAGS officers hold and continuously build connections with Universities, National Laboratories, US Geological Survey as well as with various private geophysical contractors, consultants, and companies in the Bay Area. We are a community of geoscientists, providing a forum where local geophysicists can get together, present and/or listen to presentations and share experiences, promoting geophysics and a thriving community.
BAGS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Officers, 2023-2024
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Edward Nichols – PRESIDENT Edward Nichols was a multi-year PhD student at UC Berkeley in Engineering Geoscience working under Dr. H.F. Morrison. His research area was investigating the source of noise in measurements of electromagnetic signals, While at UC Berkeley, he was involved with many projects to design and deploy ultra sensitive instrumentation to record passive and induced em signals used to interrogate the subsurface conductivity distribution. While at UC Berkeley, he also became a primary member of Electromagnetic Insturments Inc., (EMI), a small startup company specializing in the design of induction coils for the measurement of geophysical fields, the development of digital acquisition systems for land and marine magnetotellurics and controlled source exploration, and the development of downhole systems for electromagnetic measurements ranging from 3-component tools to full high powered crosswell systems. His position ranged from engineer to senior management at the company over his more than 25 years with EMI. In 2001, EMI was acquired by Schlumberger Technology, and he became a Schlumberger Technology employee eventually transferring to SRPC in Clamart, France, as an electromagnetic specialist for next generation corrosion monitoring technology. In 2016, after retiring from Schlumberger, he joined Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory to work on applying electromagnetic and seismic methods to further subsurface investigations, recently completing downhole EM measurements at the Utah Forge site. He presently has 28 patents in methods and apparatus related to electromagnetic measurement technologies. |
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Michael Wilt – VICE PRESIDENT The Bay Area Geophysical Society (BAGS) has long been a Bay Area institution and a useful part of the Geophyscists tool box to keep the network fresh and to keep learning. I have been a member of SEG for more than 40 years and a member of BAGS for more than 20 years. I was BAGS president from 2018-2020 and also served as vice president from late 2019 through 2020.
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Kevin Mendoza – SECRETARY Dr. Kevin Mendoza is a recent PhD graduate in geophysics from the University of Utah, where he focused on continental magnetotellurics under the mentorship of the late Dr. Philip Wannamaker. His geological interests include lithospheric-scale volatile cycling, mineral exploration, geothermal systems, and time-lapse tomography. Kevin began his journey as a park ranger in Yosemite National Park, later attending the Summer of Applied Geophysical Experience (SAGE) in Santa Fe, NM, in 2014. He contributed to EarthScope and magnetotelluric array data collection efforts before completing a machine learning and data science internship with ConocoPhillips in 2018, where he worked with distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) data. He is currently working as a postdoc with Sandia National Labs. During his PhD, Kevin developed expertise in the use of machine learning and data science for the interpretation of geophysical models, particularly in tomography, magnetotellurics, and joint inversion. He also served as an officer and president of Inclusive Earth, a student organization focused on promoting professionalism and inclusivity in the geosciences. He is particularly committed to promoting open source science, having contributed to a number of community-driven python-based projects. |
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Graham Brews – TREASURER Graham Brew has nearly 20 years’ experience as a Project and Product Manager for Dynamic Graphics, delivering custom software solutions to global energy companies. Most especially focused on 4D seismic applications for reservoir monitoring and characterization. His background includes work as an Earth Scientist for Chevron in San Ramon, and as an engineering geophysicist at NorCal Geophysical Consultants in Cotati. He also worked in exploration at RTZ Mining and Exploration in Santiago, Chile, and spent several years researching the geologic history of Syria, completing his PhD at Cornell University, New York, in 2001. Graham grew up in the UK and has a B.Sc. in Geophysics from University College, London. He currently lives in Montara, California. |
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Kris MacLennan – PAST PRESIDENT Dr. Kris MacLennan is geophysicist living in Oakland, CA. Prior to this term, he served as the BAGS Secretary in 2021-2022 and as President from 2023-2024. Kris earned a BA in Geophysics at UC Berkeley (2006), followed by a PhD in Geophysics at the Colorado School of Mines (2013). Kris has previously worked as a Senior Geophysicist for the Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC) at the University of North Dakota and for GroundMetrics, Inc. in San Diego. His research has primarily focused on novel ways to use electromagnetic geophysics to efficiently and effectively image and monitor subsurface fluids, including hydrocarbons, CO2, and groundwater contaminants. Currently, Kris is serving as the SEG Near Surface section Session Chair for IMAGE 2026. He participated in the Summer of Applied Geophysical Experience (SAGE) in 2005 as an undergrad and returned in 2014 as a TA, and credits his experience there with fueling his desire to be an applied geophysicist. Kris is also particularly interested in science policy and scientific communication, and has given geophysics presentations to audiences ranging from K-12 students to state legislators. |
