Anstey, Nigel Allister

Nigel Allister Gustave Anstey (born 5 September 1927) is an English geophysicist who has contributed to seismic exploration. He is the holder of over 50 multinational patents. He is best known by many geoscientists for distilling the geophysical concepts of the seismic method into non-mathematical teachings for seismic interpreters. Anstey's work in seismic exploration has spanned seven decades. Upon graduation from the University of Bristol in 1948, he joined Seismograph Service Ltd. (SSL) and spent five years in the Middle East and the West Indies as an observer on a seismic crew. In 1953, he returned to the UK as a research geophysicist. He wrote a number of seminal papers while at SSL. In 1968, he established the European offices of Seiscom Delta. In 1975, he left the company to focus on teaching and consulting. He has written many books, monographs, and journal articles, as well as being a Distinguished Lecturer for the SEG. The Nigel Anstey Award for Best Paper in "First Break", the flagship journal of the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers, is named in his honour. He is still an active contributor to the field of seismic exploration. Anstey is the grandfather of actor Tom Felton and played a minor role alongside him in the film Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001).