Recently, the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) announced its 2025 global awards recipients. Professor Shen Yi from the School of Geosciences at China University of Petroleum (East China) was honored with the SEG Special Commendation, making her the first Chinese female scholar to receive this prestigious award and globally the only one selected for this honor in 2025.

Professor Shen Yi, a doctoral supervisor and recipient of China’s National Young Talents Plan, earned her Bachelor’s degree in Acoustics from Nanjing University in 2010 and a Ph.D. in Geophysics from Stanford University in 2017 supervised by Professor Biondo Biondi. She later worked as a geophysical researcher at Shell Oil Company in the United States. In December 2022, she joined the Geophysics Department at UPC, where she established the GEET (Geophysics for Engineering and Energy Transition) research group, focusing on energy transition, hydrocarbon exploration, and smart cities. She serves as the Executive Editor of the journal Lithosphere and is a member of the SEG Research Committee. She has organized multiple SEG workshops and co-hosted SEG-EAGE joint symposia. Additionally, she has played key roles as a convener, technical committee member, chair and presenter at major international geoscience conferences such as IMAGE, EAGE, and AGU.

Founded in 1930, the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) is one of the most influential academic organizations in global geophysical prospecting. It promotes technological advancement and innovation in geophysical prospecting with experts and scholars worldwide. Its awards are among the highest honors in geophysics, representing cutting-edge achievements in the discipline. The Special Commendation recognizes individuals who have made exceptional and impactful contributions to the public, scientific community, or the geophysics profession.