Seismic waves are observed in time; however, the ultimate goal in seismic data analysis is to image the earth's interior in depth. Jon Claerbout, the Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Geophysics at Stanford University, taught the seismic industry how to put to use the equation that governs wave propagation in the earth to obtain a seismic section in depth. Moreover, his relentless pursuit for improving seismic data analysis in all aspects deconvolution, statics correction, velocity analysis, multiple attenuation, and inversion at large has produced a wealth of knowledge from which the industry has gained immeasurably over the years. We therefore honor Jon with the Society's highest award in recognition of his larger-than-life achievements in the field of exploration seismology.
Jon Claerbout received his degrees from Massachusetts Institute of Technology BS in physics (1960), MS in geophysics (1963), PhD in geophysics (1967). He joined the geophysics faculty at Stanford University in 1967. That same year, he also became a consultant to Chevron Oil Field Research Company for the next six years. He took his first sabbatical in the 1972-73 academic year. First, he was a visiting research geologist at Princeton University, then a visiting lecturer at Sydney University.
Shortly after returning to Stanford, Jon conceived of an academic research and development group with the principal goal of providing tools to the industry in seismic data analysis. This novel idea was embraced by the industry most enthusiastically; thus, came into being the Stanford Exploration Project (SEP). Today, the SEP is sponsored by more than 40 oil companies, geophysical contractors, and computer manufacturers. Over its life span of nearly two decades, the project has produced outstanding researchers who are now active in all disciplines of the seismic exploration and development industry.
Jon compiled his works on wave extrapolation and data modeling during the 1960s, and the early developments at SEP, into his first textbook, Fundamentals of Geophysical Data Processing, published in 1976. The book is widely used in geophysical data analysis courses at many universities worldwide and was later translated into Chinese (1979) and Russian (1981). As a student in Jon's class on geophysical data analysis in 1971, I recall how he transcribed a problem in wave phenomenon from continuum described in terms of integrals and other complicated mathematical formulas into simple, discrete forms in terms of finite differences and matrices. Then, instead of just observing waves, we would actually create our own waves in the computer.
Jon and his students at SEP worked on many problems in seismic data analysis during the late 1970s and early 1980s. As a result, he wrote his second book, Imaging the Earth's Interior, while on sabbatical at Cambridge University in the 1981-82 academic year. His concepts on seismic imaging became a milestone and inspired many geophysicists who then made further contributions in the field.
Jon urged his students to always seek for a solution to a problem based on a realistic understanding of the behavior of seismic waves in the earth. I don't ever recall him letting a student pursue a subject without testing theory on field data. Aside from being a prolific and a great pragmatic scientist, he has been a great teacher. He has taught his students how to introduce robustness into a theory so as to use it wisely in practice.
In the latter years of the 1980s and the early 1990s, Jon decided to integrate his vision on processing and inversion of seismic data in his third book, Earth Soundings Analysis, published in 1991. This book is not only presented in a beautifully written hard-copy form, but also on compact disc. You can reproduce all the figures in the book on a workstation. Aside from big ideas Jon has generated, one can find in his books little gems tucked in some sections; they have inspired many researchers and led
to algorithms useful in practice.
And the work of Jon continues relentlessly and consistently. In recent years, Jon has become increasingly interested in promoting the exchange of people and their ideas in the international geophysical community. He was an early member of the International Affairs Committee and a contributor in developing closer working relations with the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.
This is not the first time the Society is honoring Jon Claerbout. He received the Society's Medal Award in 1972 for "his achievements in teaching geophysicists how to develop simple, universal and automatic schemes to migrate seismic data." In
1985, he received Honorary Membership for "his work with the SEP and his dedication in the education of many of the managers, interpreters, researchers and teachers in the geophysical industry who were his former students."
Jon Claerbout is not, therefore, just a well-recognized name, but now he is indeed an institution. We honor Jon for all he has done for the science of exploration seismology, most appropriately, with the Maurice Ewing Medal.

Oz Yilmaz