Delft Internet-based introduction course on reflection processing with Matlab

In earth sciences nowadays, interdisciplinary teaching has become a common theme. Reflection seismology is an important course in such a curriculum, since it is such a powerful tool to unravel the mysteries in the Earth. From a multi-disciplinary earth scientist’s point of view, an introductory course on reflection seismology should convey the concept of the method. To support this, exercises on the computer are very much needed, if not indispensable. When choosing a certain computer environment for the supporting exercises, the main goal should be that the student (often not a geophysicist!) has to stay focused on trying to understand the seismic method, rather than understanding the software or its environment. Combined with the fact that many students do not have a sound basis in Unix (any more), Matlab becomes a very good option as the environment for an introduction on reflection seismology. In this article, we will first elaborate on the specific advantages and drawbacks when working with Matlab as a processing environment, with the aim of introducing reflection seismics to the multi-disciplinary earth science student. Then, we will describe what is offered by the Delft Internet-based course. To give insight also into the student’s perspective, we have inserted in several places in the article reactions from our students to the course, for example, ‘instructive experience for the clarification of the objectives of geophysics’, and ‘nice to see theory in practice’.