Climate change and the global energy transition increasingly require improved understanding of subsurface systems that control groundwater resources, critical minerals, and energy infrastructure. Electromagnetic (EM) geophysics provides a powerful means of imaging subsurface electrical properties across a wide range of spatial scales. This presentation focuses on EM methods applied at both regional and deposit scales. A regional-scale airborne EM study in California’s Central Valley demonstrates how basin-scale resistivity models advance groundwater characterization and sustainable management. In contrast, a deposit-scale example introduces a next-generation EM system designed to better characterize nickel sulphide deposits, highlighting how advances in sensors and interpretation can improve imaging of complex mineral systems. 

Dr. Kang completed his PhD in Geophysics at the University of British Columbia (Canada) in 2018, where his thesis focused on computational electromagnetics and its applications to mining problems. He later worked as a Research Scientist at Stanford University, advancing electromagnetic geophysics for groundwater science and sustainable water management in California (USA). Currently, he is an Assistant Professor at the University of Manitoba, where he leads the Electromagnetic Geophysics Lab. His research focuses on advancing electromagnetic methods for groundwater and mineral exploration applications. He is also a co-creator of the open-source geophysical software project SimPEG. 

Speaker-recommended reading: Kang, S., Goebel, M., & Knight, R. (2025). Harnessing the power of geophysical imaging to recharge California’s groundwater. Earth and Space Science, 12, e2024EA003958. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024EA003958