Education for geophysicists will be improved with new funding, it has been revealed.

TGS-NOPEC Geophysical and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) Foundation announced a $500,000 (£281,738) commitment to the Advancing Geophysics Today, Inspiring Geoscientists for Tomorrow campaign.

Five annual installments will provide grants for university-sponsored summer geophysical field camps worldwide.

Hank Hamilton, chief executive officer of TGS, stated: "Geophysics starts in the field. Survey design and execution are essential in our business."

Mr Hamilton added that the company is very proud to be a part of geophysical training around the world.

Gary Servos, SEG Foundation board chair, also praised the decision saying that the funding would help the foundation increase support for the existing camps and to establish new ones.

Advancing Geophysics Today, Inspiring Geoscientists for Tomorrow was launched in 2007 with an aim to strengthen the geophysical community.

The job of some geophysicists in the oil industry is to help locate new oil and gas reserves and to maximise production from existing wells.

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