Speaker:	Simon Ghyselincks, Graduate Student, PhD Track University of British Columbia
Title:	Synthetic Geology: Encoding Geological Knowledge into Generative AI Models for Probabilistic 3D Reconstruction.
Date:	Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Time:	4:00pm to 4:40pm PDT
Location:	Room 111 – 409 Granville Street Vancouver, BC, V6C 1T2

Abstract:

Reconstructing 3D structural geology from sparse surface and borehole observations is a longstanding challenge with critical applications in mineral exploration, geohazard assessment, and geotechnical engineering. This inherently ill-posed problem is often addressed by classical geophysical inversion methods, which typically yield a single maximum-likelihood model that fails to capture the full range of plausible geology. In this talk, I present StructuralGeo, a rapid simulation engine that generates synthetic lithological models encoding geological knowledge such as the tectonic, magmatic, and sedimentary processes found in textbooks. Using this engine as a synthetic dataset, we train both unconditional and conditional generative AI models that can reconstruct multiple plausible 3D scenarios from surface topography and sparse borehole data, depicting structures such as layers, faults, folds, and dikes. 

Bio:

Simon Ghyselincks is a researcher at the Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence and a graduate student in the Department of Computer Science at the University of British Columbia (UBC). Co-advised by Professors Eldad Haber and Evan Shelhamer, his research focuses on the intersection of deep learning and geophysical modeling, specifically developing generative AI models for probabilistic solutions to complex inverse problems. Simon is a recent alumnus of the UBC Engineering Physics program (BASc) and a member of the UBC Institute of Applied Mathematics (IAM). In addition to his academic research, he works as a software consultant for Earth Dynamics AI, where he bridges the gap between machine learning research and practical geological applications. His work on synthetic geology and structural modeling was recently published in the Journal of Geophysical Research.

Our 2025 annual general (AGM) will be held:

at 4:40pm on Wednesday, March 18, 2026
at Room 111 – 409 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC, V6C 1T2

The main order of business will be to elect the Directors of the BCGS and review the past year’s activity. Our bylaws allow for between 4 and 7 Directors. Four current directors are standing for re-election. No new directors are standing for election.

We are inviting interested persons to nominate themselves for election to join the Board of the BCGS. Please indicate your intent to do so by 23h59 on Monday, March 16, 2026.  All names of prospective candidates will then be included on a revised AGM notice to be emailed out the following business day if any changes are required.

The BCGS directors standing for election are:

Chair	Ross Polutnik	SJ Geophysics Ltd.
Vice-Chair	open
Treasurer	Kalen Martens	SJ Geophysics Ltd.
Scholarship Coordinator	open
Technology Specialist	Dominique Fournier	Mira Geoscience Ltd.
Director at Large	Griff Jones	Tetra Tech
Director at Large	open

The following directors will be stepping down from their positions. The executive would like to thank them for all their hard work and contributions to the BCGS.

• Kyle Patterson (Vice-Chair)
• Francis Jones (Scholarship Coordinator)
• Shawn Letts (Director at Large)

We would like to remind you there are two classes of voting members in the BCGS:

1. General member. An annual fee of $20.
2. Student members. Free membership upon demonstration of enrollment in a post-secondary program at an accredited educational institution.

In order to participate in the vote, you must be a paid member. If you have paid your 2025 or 2026 member dues you are eligible to vote. You can pay your member dues online via our website or pay in cash at the AGM. Eligible students, as defined above, are entitled to vote. Please contact the executive at info at bcgsonline.org to be added to the official member list.

If you have paid or renewed your BCGS membership in the past few months, then your 2026 dues have been paid.

If you are unsure of your current membership status please send us an email (info at bcgsonline.org) and we’d be happy to check for you.

The AGM is open to all BCGS members and non-members of the geophysical community.