Seismic Soundoff

Historian Brian Frehner discusses the energy transition from coal to oil and the historical importance of J. Clarence Karcher. June 2021 marks the 100th anniversary of field tests confirming that J. Clarence Karcher's seismic reflection technique could detect and map structures capable of trapping oil. In this future-focused conversation, Brian discusses why Karcher left the oil business after his major breakthrough, the impact business had on the development of the oil industry, the creation of geophysics as a discipline, and the lessons learned for future energy transitions. The transition to oil may seem obvious now, but it was not inevitable. By studying the past energy transition from coal to oil, scientists and the public can better understand how transitions do and do not occur and better prepare for future transitions. Visit https://seg.org/podcast for the complete show notes. BIOGRAPHY Brian Frehner is an Associate Professor of History at the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Miss