Project news, events and outreach
Welcome to the team, Dr Ziqi Zhang
The Echoes from the Planetary Cores ARC Laureate Fellowship is delighted to welcome Dr Ziqi Zhang to the team as a postdoctoral researcher.
Ziqi joins the Fellowship after working as a postdoctoral associate at the University of Maryland, where he contributed to a NASA-funded project developing new approaches to extract weak seismic signals from noisy observations. Using data from NASA's InSight mission, his work investigated the structure and evolution of the Martian lithosphere.
During his PhD at the University of Rochester, Ziqi developed a suite of seismic data-processing methods designed to overcome common observational challenges, including sparse data coverage, strong noise and complex reverberations that can obscure signals from deeper structures.
His research focuses on improving the robustness and resolution of seismic imaging, helping to reveal features that can be difficult to identify using conventional approaches. As part of the Laureate Fellowship at ANU, Ziqi will bring this expertise to the team's broader exploration of planetary interiors.
We are delighted to have Ziqi joining the team and look forward to his contribution to the Fellowship and the next stage of his research at ANU.
Welcome to the team, Dr Quán Zhang
The Echoes from the Planetary Cores ARC Laureate Fellowship is delighted to welcome Dr Quán Zhang to the team as a postdoctoral researcher.
Quán joins the Fellowship after completing his PhD in Earth Sciences at the University of Ottawa, where he was an iMAGE-CREATE trainee supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
His doctoral research used seismic analysis and imaging techniques to investigate the layered crust and upper mantle of Earth and Mars, contributing to our understanding of the internal structures of both terrestrial and planetary bodies.
At ANU, Quán will extend this work to explore the deep interiors of Earth, Mars and the Moon. As part of the Laureate Fellowship, he will develop innovative seismological approaches aimed at revealing more about the internal structure and evolution of these planetary bodies.
We are delighted to have Quán joining the team and look forward to his contribution to the Fellowship and the next stage of his research at ANU.
Welcome to the team, Dr Kat Dapré
The Echoes from the Planetary Cores ARC Laureate Fellowship is delighted to welcome Dr Kat Dapré to the team as a postdoctoral researcher.
Kat joins the Fellowship from the University of Maryland, where she worked with passive seismic data collected at the Ross Ice Shelf as part of NASA's Antarctic Rift Research for Ocean Worlds (ARROW) project. Her research explored the geophysical complexities associated with a kilometre-scale open rift in the ice shelf, using techniques including seismic cross-correlation and machine learning to identify seismic phase arrivals in ice.
Kat completed her PhD at the University of Bristol, where she simulated the global seismic wavefield of Saturn's icy moon Enceladus. Her research examined how properties of the moon's ice shell, including attenuation and variations in its three-dimensional thickness, influence the likelihood of detecting seismic signals from an icy ocean world.
As part of the Laureate Fellowship at ANU, Kat will bring together her experience in terrestrial cryoseismology and planetary seismology to investigate questions arising from her earlier work on icy moons. Her expertise will contribute to the Fellowship's exploration of planetary interiors and preparations for potential future missions, including ESA's proposed L4 lander.
We are delighted to have Kat joining the team and look forward to the contribution she will make to the Fellowship and to the next chapter of her research at ANU.
Echoes from the Planetary Cores team represented at the 19th SEDI Symposium
Members of the Echoes from the Planetary Cores team recently participated in the 19th SEDI Symposium (Study of Earth's Deep Interior) in Townsville, Queensland. The international symposium brought together researchers from around the world to discuss the latest advances in understanding Earth's deep interior and the evolution of planetary bodies.
The meeting provided an opportunity for members of the Fellowship team, including postdoctoral researchers and PhD students, to present their research, exchange ideas and engage with the international geophysics community. Conferences such as SEDI play an important role in fostering collaboration, sharing knowledge and supporting the next generation of Earth and planetary scientists.
Professor Hrvoje Tkalčić featured on Nuclear Matters podcast
Professor Hrvoje Tkalčić recently joined Elizabeth Williams on the Nuclear Matters podcast to discuss the many applications of seismology, from monitoring clandestine nuclear weapons tests to exploring the hidden interiors of Earth and other planetary bodies.
The conversation highlights how seismic instruments operated by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) can distinguish underground nuclear tests from natural earthquakes, while also detecting signals from ocean storms, meteorite impacts and even wildlife. The discussion also explores themes from Professor Tkalčić's recent book, When Worlds Quake, and how seismic waves provide scientists with a unique window into Earth's deep interior and the evolution of other worlds.
The interview provides an engaging introduction to the breadth of modern seismology and highlights research being undertaken through the Echoes from the Planetary Cores ARC Laureate Fellowship.
Watch the interview on YouTube by clicking the image below.
Book launch: When Worlds Quake
Professor Hrvoje Tkalčić’s new book, When Worlds Quake: The Quest to Understand the Interior of the Earth and Beyond, will be launched at Paperchain Bookstore in Griffith on Thursday 28 May, from 5:30pm to 6:30pm AEST.
Hrvoje will be in conversation with Anna-Maria Arabia OAM for this free event. Places are limited and registration is required.
Pre-Laureate Workshop held at Mt Stromlo Observatory
The Echoes from the Planetary Cores team held a pre-Laureate workshop at Mt Stromlo Observatory, bringing together researchers to discuss planetary cores, seismic science and future collaboration opportunities.
