The Association of Hungarian Geophysicists

The Association’s logo tells the main points of the story: The Association was
established in 1954 but geophysics in Hungary is much older; the great Hungarian
physicist, Loránd Eötvös, carried out the first measurements with his torsion balance
– shown in the logo – in 1891. Earth sciences have an even longer and
distinguished tradition in Hungary. The first isoseismal map in the world was
constructed by the Hungarian polymath, Pál Kitaibel, in 1814. The Hungarian
Geological Society was established as early as in 1849.

The Association of Hungarian geophysicists, a corporate body is a scientific society.
It is a member of the Federation of Technical and Scientific Societies. The present
constitution and by–laws were based on those of the European Association of
Exploration Geophysicists and were adopted in 1990.

The Association of Hungarian Geophysicists represents experts of various fields of
geophysics and related sciences; and promotes the professional interests of its
members. It stages presentations, seminars, conferences (e.g. an assembly held
each year at different sites, the annual meeting of young geophysicists) and
discussions; issues the professional journal Magyar Geofizika (Hungarian
Geophysics), organizes contests to solve technical and scientific problems;
elaborates expert opinions; accepts commissions; cooperates with technical and
scientific associations and other organizations, and with geophysical departments of
universities at home and abroad; it presents awards for outstanding work and
establishes foundations.

The Association has regular, corporate and honorary members. Regular and
honorary members may be Hungarian or foreign citizens.

Foreign citizen honorary members of the Association of Hungarian
Geophysicists

Year of election Name Country of residence

(Names in bold mark Hungarian–born geophysicists.)

The governing bodies of the Association are the General Meeting and the Council.
The General Meeting is convened once a year, and elects the following officers: The
President for the coming year (President Elect), the Secretary, the Supervisory
Board, the Editor–in–Chief of Magyar Geofizika and the Advisory Boards for the
foundations.

Foundation

The Association of Hungarian Geophysicists decided at its 1990 Meeting to establish
the “Foundation for Hungarian Geophysicists” and elected its first Advisory Board
for 3 years. The foundation has been started with a moderate initial capital of 300
000 HUF*, which has by now increased to more than 12 million and it is open for
everybody.

The primary aim of this Foundation is to help provide financial support for junior
geophysicists and retired members of the Association.

The nine members of the Advisory Board invite everybody to join this Foundation;
donations should be communicated with the Board. Organizations and persons
donating sums exceeding the initial capital will have the opportunity to delegate
representatives into the Board.

Address:
Advisory Board of the
“Foundation for Hungarian Geophysicists”
H–1371 Budapest, P. O. B. 431
Budapest II. Fõ utca 68.


Between annual General Meetings, the affairs of the Association are handled by the
Council, the members of which are:
1. The President (term of office, one year), the President Elect and the Past
President;
2. The Secretary (term of office, three years);
3. The Editor–in–Chief of Magyar Geofizika (term of office, three years);
4. One representative (chairman or secretary from each section and regional
chapter.

The Association has the following sections:
Pure Geophysics
Surface Geophysics
SPWLA (Society of Professional Well–Log Analysts) Budapest Chapter
Hydrocarbons (This section was established in 1992, its members are scientific
experts and engineers associated with petroleum exploration and production.)

The Association – in addition to Budapest – has five regional chapters. The
headquarters of these chapters are in cities (in brackets if the chapter bears another
name) with geophysics–related institutions.

Sopron Chapter

MTA GGKI
GEODETIC AND GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
of the HUNGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

The institute's main activities in geophysics and geodynamics make use of
geomagnetism, electromagnetic induction, aeronomy, seismology, strain and tilt
measurements (close links with geophysics are maintained through gravimetry).

The Geodetic and Geophysical Research Institute runs the seismologic observatory
network in Hungary, the geophysical observatory near Nagycenk (geomagnetism,
aeronomy), and the geodynamic observatory in Bánfalva.

Address: H-9401 Sopron, Csatkai E. u. 6-8
Phone: (36)-99-314-290
Fax: (36)-99-313-267

Zala Chapter (Nagykanizsa)

The southwestern part of the country was the cradle of the Hungarian oil industry in
the 1930s. Now MOL and Geoinform Ltd. have departments here (see at Budapest
and the Great Plain Chapter).

Mecsek Chapter (Pécs)

MECSEKURÁN ORE MINING Ltd.

Mecsekurán Ltd. deals with the uranium mining and milling operations in Hungary.
Mecsekurán's predecessor started production in the 1950s and the date of planned
closeout is 1998. Over the past year 200 t of U was produced, half of that in the
previous years. Remediation work started in 1990.

The Company's Radiological Laboratory is mainly concerned with investigating the
environmental impact caused by the uranium industry in the last 40 years. An
integrated radiological monitoring system (air, water, soil, vegetation and man) is
operated and the Laboratory has gained comprehensive experience in dosimetric
and environmental measurements. The Laboratory also supervises the restoration
work which is carried out simultaneously with the mining activities.
In addition, the Laboratory is also involved in research and development; and
(supported by government funds) has built up a radon monitoring network in
Hungary.

Address: H-7614 Pécs, 39-es dandár u. 19
Phone: (36)-72-315-777

GEOPARD
(GEOTECHNICAL ENVIRONMENTAL OBSERVATION PRODUCTION AND
RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT)

Research, Development and Services Company for Geotechnique and
Environmental Protection, Ltd. Subsidiaries – activities:

GEOPARD Company for Gas Dynamics and Rock Physics, Ltd.
GEOPARD Company for Geotechniques and Geophysics, Ltd.
GEOPARD Company for Environmental Protection, Ltd.
GEOPARD Company for Fire and Explosion Protection, Ltd.

January 1st 1990
The Research Center of the Mecsek Coal Mining Company and its employees, and
the Company itself found GEOPARD Company Limited.

Address: H-7628 Pécs, György akna
Phone: (36)-72- 238-930, (36)-72-239-371
Fax: (36)-72-238-930

Great Plain Chapter (Szolnok)

GEOINFORM
Geoinformation Well Services Ltd.

GEOINFORM's main activities cover wireline logging (open, cased hole and PL) and
perforation services, mud logging and other well–site geological services, drill stem
tests, and hydrodynamic measurements and sampling.

In addition, GEOINFORM manufactures and sells explosive materials (charges,
detonating cords and fuses) to be used in deep wells. These products are developed
by Hungarian experts and are suitable for casing guns and thru–tubing guns.

Address: H-5002 Szolnok, Körösi út 43.
Phone: (36)-56-424-033, (36)-56-374-823
Fax: (36)-56-422-196

MOL also has departments here (see at Budapest).

Northern Hungary Chapter (Miskolc)

UNIVERSITY of MISKOLC
DEPARTMENT OF GEOPHYSICS

The Faculty of Mining Engineering and the Faculty of Metallurgical Engineering, -
the legal predecessors of the university - look back on a history of more than 250
years: the Imperial Treasury in Vienna founded the Mining School in Selmecbánya
(now in Slovakia) in 1735. In modern terms, the Department of Geophysics was
founded in 1951, but did not become housed in Miskolc until 1959.

Education: the Department offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate
courses covering applied and pure geophysics as well. In addition, the Department
is engaged in research, and its activities make use of gravity, magnetic, electrical,
electromagnetic, seismic, and borehole geophysical methods, emphasis being
placed on applications.

Address: H-3515 Miskolc-Egyetemváros
Phone: (36)-46-365-111
Fax: (36)-46-361-936

Budapest

ELGI
Eötvös Loránd Geophysical Institute of Hungary

In 1919 a few close colleagues of Eötvös Loránd, who were engaged in gravity and
magnetic methods founded the Eötvös Loránd Geophysical Institute. Currently, ELGI
has 120 employees, and its activities cover numerous areas of ground-, airborne-,
and borehole-geophysics, as well as remote sensing.

At present, however, we might say - probably with a considerable degree of pride -
that the several decades long history of ELGI is not a sign of age but of tradition and
competence. Relying on the strength of this tradition and versatility, our Institute has
been able to adapt itself to the modified requirements of changed conditions and to
maintain its earlier achieved position not only amongst the most important research
institutes of Hungary but also internationally.

Address: H-1145 Budapest, Kolumbusz u. 17-23
Phone: (36)-1-252-4999
Fax: (36)-1-163-7256

EÖTVÖS LORÁND UNIVERSITY
FCAULTY OF SCIENCE

The University, since 1950 with the title Eötvös Loránd, was founded in 1635 by
Cardinal Péter PÁZMÁNY (1570–1637) as a Catholic institution. Its original location
was Nagyszombat (now Trnava in Slovakia).

Today, the Eötvös Loránd University of Budapest is the oldest and, with its more
than 13,000 full–time students, the biggest university in Hungary.
The Department of Geophysics is incorporated into the Institute of Environmental
Physics, together with three other Departments: Astronomy, Cartography and
Meteorology. Efforts are being made for establishing cooperative work in
environmental problems.

The main research topics of the Department of Geophysics are:
Global and regional studies in geophysics
Applied geophysics
Remote sensing and space research.

Address: H-1083 Ludovika tér 2
Phone: (36)-1- 210-1075
Fax:(36)-1-210-1089

GES
GEOPHYSICAL SERVICES Ltd.

Its main profile is land seismic data acquisition and data processing (including
planning, consulting, permitting, surveying, line clearing, compensation, mapping).
Other geophysical methods such as gravimetry and geoelectrics are also utilized.

With a background dating back to 1952, GES has the expertise, experience and
facilities for carrying out large–scale 2D and 3D seismic turnkey projects.

Apart from domestic projects GES has gained experience in North Africa (Tunisia), in
a number of European countries, and has good contacts in the CIS region.

Address: H-1068 Budapest, Városligeti fasor 42.
Phone: (36)-1- 268-1492
Fax: (36)-1-268-1479

MOL
HUNGARIAN OIL AND GAS COMPANY LTD.
EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION DIVISION

Primarily, the Division is responsible for exploring and profitably producing
petroleum reserves.

In exploration, we utilize seismic, gravity, magnetic, geoelectric interpretation and
mapping, log interpretation. This work is backed up by a wide range of reservoir
management techniques as well as by top-flight laboratory facilities.

As a point of historical interest, although the MOL organization itself is comparatively
new, its predecessors date back to 1937 when MAORT (Hungarian–American Crude
Oil Company) was established.

Address: H-1117 Budapest, Október huszonharmadika u. 18.
Phone: (36)-1-209-0000
Fax: (36)-1-209-0095
Overwhelming majority of the members comes from these nine institutions. At the
end of 1995 the Association had a total membership of 624. The membership
statistics between 1954 and 1995 reflects changes in the geophysical activity in
Hungary. There is an almost uninterrupted increase till the end of the 1970s. The
about 200 Hungarian geophysicists missing from the membership in 1956 and 1957
could be found all over the world, but outside Hungary. In the 1980s the membership
fluctuated around 750, in the 1990s the decrease in membership shows the trend of
geophysical research and exploration.

The Association’s standing committees are:
Editorial Board Engineering Geophysics
International Affairs Science and Education
Nominations Juniors
Validation Board Seniors

The Association of Hungarian Geophysicists is a corporate member of the European
Geophysical Society and an associated society of the European Association of
Geoscientists & Engineers.

HUNGARIAN OFFICERS IN EAEG, EAPG AND EAGE

EAEG Council members
1983 – 1987 Oszkár ÁDÁM
1987 – 1991 Károly MOLNÁR
1991 – 1996 Tamás BODOKY
in 1994: President

Committee on Publication
1984 – 1990 Éva Sz. KILÉNYI
1990 – Zsuzsanna HEGYBÍRÓ

Associate Editors
1994 – Mihály DOBRÓKA

Technical Programme Committee
1995 – László VERÕ
Technical Programme Officer
1996 László VERÕ

EAPG Technical Programme Committee:
1991 - Ferenc HORVÁTH

National Correspondents:
1991 - Gy. POGÁCSÁS

Advisory Council
1991 - Gy. POGÁCSÁS

The Association played a distinguished role in establishing connections between the
geophysical societies and communities in Central and Eastern Europe, then was the
pioneer in turning towards the western associations.

The symposium

Since its inception, the Association has always attached great importance to
international relations. The first manifestation of this was in 1955, with the
geomagnetic conference held in Budapest and Tihany (at Lake Balaton where ELGI
has its geomagnetic observatory).

The main topic of the international scientific conferences in the following years
almost always focused on the regional geophysics of the Carpathian Basin. The
increasing number of domestic and foreign attendees eventually led to the decision
to make the symposia international. As a result, the first symposium abroad was held
in 1967. Later, symposia were held in many of the neighboring countries; the
symposium held abroad in 1991 was not followed by further events. The proceedings
of the various symposia have always been very popular — and not only with the
participants.

In addition to the symposia the Association gradually made steps toward the west. In
1980 the 7th Annual Meeting of the European Geophysical Society and the 17th
General Assembly of the European Seismological Commission were held in
Budapest, at the Budapest Technical University. The Hungarian astronaut, Bertalan
Farkas, gave a talk at the EGS–ESC meeting.

The next step was the 47th Annual Meeting of the EAEG in 1985.Do you remember
the 1985 EAEG meeting “behind the iron curtain”? The exhibition in the Vigadó
(Redout) and in front of it; the gala dinner in the National Gallery? There were, of
course, oral and poster presentations, too.

This Meeting was followed by the SPWLA 13th European Symposium in 1990.

And the future: The 1997 Winter Workshop of the EAGE – MT ’97 – is being
organized by the Association and the 5th Meeting of the European Section of the
Environmental and Engineering Geophysical Society will be held in Hungary, in
1999.

Awards

Loránd Eötvös Medal
A medal for outstanding and devoted activities as well as lifetime service in the
science of geophysics. One medal may be issued every third year. Only regular
members of the Association are eligible; winners of this medal become honorary
members.

Honorary membership
Honorary members may be Hungarian or foreign citizens who have shown
outstanding performance in geophysics or in supporting the objectives of the
Association.

László Egyed Medal

This medal recognizes outstanding performance in the field of geophysics. Two
medals may be awarded every second year to regular members of the Association.

János Renner Medal

This medal recognizes outstanding service within and on behalf of the Association.
Two medals may be awarded every year.

Best papers of the year

There are two awards: One for the best theoretical paper, and one for the best case
history, published in one of the Hungarian geophysical journals (Magyar Geofizika,
Geophysical Transactions, Acta Geodaetica et Gophysica) by the members of the
Association.

Best first presentation

This award recognizes the best first presentation by a junior member at the biannual
meeting of young geophysicists.
Presentation of medals and awards takes place at the annual General Meeting.

ADDRESS
Association of Hungarian Geophysicists
Secretary’s Office
H–1027 Budapest, Fõ utca 68
Telephone/telefax: (36 1) 201 9815
E–mail: geophysic@mtesz.hu


(Using the Association’s brochure and the poster presented at the Amsterdam EAGE
Conference, compiled by László Verõ, Secretary of the Association of Hungarian
Geophysicists.)