Building Geophysical Capacity in Latin America

16/10/2025 23 min
Building Geophysical Capacity in Latin America

Listen "Building Geophysical Capacity in Latin America"

Episode Synopsis

"South America is a region with great potential in terms of energy transition, mining, and geothermal. I would like to be part of the next major discoveries in critical minerals and contribute to new technologies for future generations."

Ana Curcio shares her journey from academia to industry and highlights the growing role of geophysics in South America’s energy and resource development. She explains the challenges of lithium brine exploration, the promise of geothermal energy, and the importance of connecting geophysics with engineering. Her insights show how geophysicists can play a key role in sustainable resource management and the energy transition.

Read her article, "President's Page: Resources and geophysical opportunities in South America," on the SEG Library at https://doi.org/10.1190/tle41040228.1.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
> Geophysics must integrate with engineering to move exploration into production and add value to resource development.
> Lithium brine and geothermal exploration in South America present both technical challenges and major opportunities for innovation.
> Building stronger geophysical capacity in Latin America requires investment, education, and closer collaboration with local societies.

GUEST BIO
Ana Curcio holds a Doctor of Engineering and serves as a consultant at the University of Buenos Aires. A former SEG Director-at-Large, she has held multiple leadership roles within SEG and serves on the board of the Argentinean Association of Petroleum Geologists and Geophysicists. With more than 15 years of experience in hydrocarbons, lithium, and mining, Ana specializes in multiphysics integration for reservoir monitoring, brine prospecting, and anisotropy studies. She is fluent in Spanish, English, Portuguese, and Chinese.