ANU Secures $3.8 Million to Unlock the Secrets of Earth’s Deep Interior
Professor Hrvoje Tkalčić from the Australian National University (ANU) has officially launched his Australian Laureate Fellowship, establishing a new research group dedicated to deep Earth and planetary seismology.
Research Objectives
The project will use seismic waves generated by globally distributed earthquakes to probe the properties of Earth's deep interior. These findings could then be applied to study other planetary bodies, including Mars and the Moon.
Key areas of focus include:
- Using seismic waves to investigate the composition and dynamics of Earth's core and mantle.
- Understanding the role of planetary cores in generating and maintaining magnetic fields.
- Using Mars as a comparative planet due to its simpler geological history.
- Collaborating on the Fleet Space Technologies project to deploy a seismic station (SPIDER) on the far side of the Moon.
"This fellowship places trust in my proposed research directions and enables me to pursue fundamental questions without the constraints of incremental funding."
— Professor Hrvoje Tkalčić
The project has received over $3.8 million in funding from the Australian Research Council, with additional support from ANU.
Outreach and Mentorship
The fellowship includes components for mentorship of postdocs and PhD students, as well as outreach activities in collaboration with the ANU Tjabal Indigenous Higher Education Centre and the ANU Gender Institute.