Geostatistics is a branch of statistics focusing on spatial or spatiotemporal datasets. Developed originally to predict probability distributions of ore grades for mining operations, it is currently applied in diverse disciplines including petroleum geology, hydrogeology, hydrology, meteorology, oceanography, geochemistry, geometallurgy, geography, forestry, environmental control, landscape ecology, soil science, and agriculture. Geostatistics is applied in varied branches of geography, particularly those involving the spread of diseases (epidemiology), the practice of commerce and military planning (logistics), and the development of efficient spatial networks. Geostatistical algorithms are incorporated in many places, including geographic information systems (GIS).
In statistics, compositional data are quantitative descriptions of the parts of some whole, conveying relative information. Mathematically, compositional data is represented by points on a simplex. Measurements involving probabilities, proportions, percentages, and ppm can all be thought of as compositional data.
In statistics, spurious correlation of ratios is a form of spurious correlation that arises between ratios of absolute measurements which themselves are uncorrelated.
Georges François Paul Marie Matheron was a French mathematician and civil engineer of mines, known as the founder of geostatistics and a co-founder of mathematical morphology. In 1968, he created the Centre de Géostatistique et de Morphologie Mathématique at the Paris School of Mines in Fontainebleau. He is known for his contributions on Kriging and mathematical morphology. His seminal work is posted for study and review to the Online Library of the Centre de Géostatistique, Fontainebleau, France.
Geomathematics is the application of mathematical methods to solve problems in geosciences, including geology and geophysics, and particularly geodynamics and seismology.
The International Association for Mathematical Geosciences (IAMG) is a nonprofit organization of geoscientists. It aims to promote international cooperation in the application and use of mathematics in geological research and technology. IAMG's activities are to organize meetings, issue of publications on the application of mathematics in the geological sciences, extend cooperation with other organizations professionally concerned with applications of mathematics and statistics to the biological sciences, earth sciences, engineering, environmental sciences, and planetary sciences. IAMG is a not for profit 501(c)(3) organization.
The Georges Matheron Lecture Series is sponsored by the International Association for Mathematical Geosciences (IAMG) to honor the legacy of the French engineer Georges François Paul Marie Matheron, known as the founder of geostatistics and a co-founder of mathematical morphology. The Georges Matheron Lecture is given by a scientist with proven research ability in the field of spatial statistics or mathematical morphology. It is presented annually if an eligible and worthy nominee is found. The first recipient of the award was Jean Serra, for a long time a scientists with the Centre of Mathematical Morphology, Fontainebleau. Serra delivered the first lecture at the IAMG conference in Liège, Belgium in 2006. The IAMG Lectures Committee seeks nominations and makes the selection.
The William Christian Krumbein Medal is the highest award given alternate years by the International Association for Mathematical Geosciences (IAMG) to senior scientists for career achievement, which includes (a) distinction in application of mathematics or informatics in the earth sciences, (b) service to the IAMG, and (c) support to professions involved in the earth sciences. There is no stipulated preference for fields of application within the earth sciences. The William Christian Krumbein Medal, named after William Christian Krumbein, was established in 1976.
The IAMG Distinguished Lectureship is a special lecture series established in the year 2002 by the International Association for Mathematical Geosciences (IAMG). Each year IAMG selects IAMG Distinguished Lecturer, who is an outstanding individual with (i) demonstrated ability to communicate mathematical concepts to general geological audience, (ii) a clear enthusiasm for mathematical geology, (iii) recognition fork in their field, and (iv) established skill in working with individuals and in group discussions on geological problems. The selected IAMG Distinguished Lecturer must be ready to travel and to (i) Prepare and present a lecture suitable for a general geological audience, (ii) Prepare and present one or two lectures on a more specialized topic, and Interact and hold discussions with individuals, both professionals and students, on applications of mathematical geology to local problems of interest.
The John Cedric Griffiths Teaching Award is presented alternate years to honor outstanding teaching with preference for teaching that involves application of mathematics or informatics to the Earth's nonrenewable natural resources or to sedimentary geology every years by the International Association for Mathematical Geosciences (IAMG). The John Cedric Griffiths Teaching Award, named after John Cedric Griffiths, was established in 1996.
The Felix Chayes Prize is presented in alternate years for Excellence in Research in Mathematical Petrology by the International Association for Mathematical Geosciences (IAMG). The cash prize, named after American geologist and petrographer Felix Chayes, was established in 1997
Frederik Pieter Agterberg is a Dutch-born Canadian mathematical geologist who served at the Geological Survey of Canada. He attended Utrecht University in The Netherlands from 1954 to 1961. He was instrumental in establishing International Association for Mathematical Geosciences. He received William Christian Krumbein Medal in 1978 from International Association for Mathematical Geosciences. In 1981 Agterberg became a correspondent of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2004, he was named IAMG Distinguished Lecturer. He was the president of International Association for Mathematical Geosciences from 2004 to 2008. His contribution in Quantitative Stratigraphy in collaboration with Felix M. Gradstein is noteworthy.
John Warvelle Harbaugh (1926-2019) was an American geologist who spent most of his professional career at Stanford University devoted to research on mathematical modeling of dynamic systems, sedimentary basin simulation and oil exploration risk analysis. Since 1999, he was Professor Emeritus both at the Geological and Environmental Sciences Department and at the Energy Resources Engineering Department.
Ricardo Antonio Olea is a Chilean American who was a research mathematical statistician with the United States Geological Survey (2006–21). Previously, he spent most of his career with the National Oil Company of Chile (ENAP) in Punta Arenas and Santiago, and with the Kansas Geological Survey in Lawrence. He received the William Christian Krumbein Medal in 2004 from the International Association for Mathematical Geosciences. He served as Secretary-General (1992−1996) and President (1996–2000) for the International Association for Mathematical Geosciences; and Secretary General (2019–21) of the Compositional Data Association.
Daniel Francis Merriam was an American geologist best known for fostering the development of quantitative modeling in geology after the advent of digital computers. He first joined the Kansas Geological Survey in 1953, initially working under the direction Raymond C. Moore to have a more accurate knowledge about the geology of the state. His fascination with the new possibilities offered by computers started ten years later while working with John W. Harbaugh at Stanford University as Visiting Research Scientist. In the following seven years, he was active organizing colloquia and as editor of the Computer Contributions, who saw 50 publications in the series by pioneers in the new field. Merriam accepted the position of Chairman of the Department of Geology at Syracuse University in 1971 and moved to the same position at Wichita State University in 1981, coming back to the Kansas Geological Survey in 1991 to retire in 1997, remaining as an Emeritus Scientist.
Eric Christopher Grunsky is a Canadian mathematical geoscientist specialized in statistical petrology. Grunsky received the Felix Chayes Prize in 2005 from the International Association for Mathematical Geosciences and served as Editor-in-Chief for the journal Computers & Geosciences from 2006-2011. He was awarded the Krumbein Medal in 2012 by the International Association for Mathematical Geosciences. He is currently serving International Association for Mathematical Geosciences (IAMG) as its appointed Secretary General.
Raimon Tolosana-Delgado is currently working at Helmholtz-Institut Freiberg für Ressourcentechnologie, Germany. Tolosana-Delgado received the Felix Chayes Prize in 2013, and the Andrei Borisovich Vistelius Research Award in 2007, from the International Association for Mathematical Geosciences. He is an elected Executive Vice President of the International Association for Mathematical Geosciences
Antonella Buccianti is an Italian statistician and earth scientist, known for her work on the statistics of compositional data and its applications in geochemistry and geostatistics. She is an associate professor in the department of earth sciences at the University of Florence.
