EGU 2024 Outstanding Early Career Scientist Prize

28 June 2024

Dr Stephen Hicks, a postdoctoral research in seismology, was awarded the prestigious European Geoscience Union鈥檚 (EGU) 2024 Seismology Division Outstanding Early Career Scientist Prize for exceptional contributions to seismology.

Image: Dr Stephen Hicks receives the award.听

Earth Science鈥檚 Dr Stephen Hicks, a postdoctoral research in seismology, was awarded the prestigious European Geoscience Union鈥檚 (EGU) 2024 听Seismology Division Outstanding Early Career Scientist Prize for exceptional contributions to seismology, including innovative seismic imaging techniques, studies of earthquake processes as well as Earth structure, science communication and community building.

Stephen was given his award at April鈥檚 EGU General Assembly in Vienna, where he gave a keynote lecture entitled, 鈥楿ncovering the tectonic secrets of the Atlantic with broadband ocean-bottom seismology鈥�. Stephen has a broad interest in tackling high-impact scientific problems, from deciphering earthquake rupture processes, to imaging tectonic plate boundaries, and monitoring critical changes to Earth鈥檚 surface environment using seismology. Working at 皇家华人, Stephen is currently part of Prof Ana Ferreira鈥檚 seismology team, working as part of the EU-funded UPFLOW project, to image mantle upwellings beneath the oceans.

Image: Dr Stephen Hicks giving his presentation.

Stephen鈥檚 broad knowledge in seismology, coupled with his exceptional problem-solving skills and creativity, has led to several innovative contributions. These include his observations of a back-propagating supershear earthquake rupture and a multidisciplinary interpretation of fluid and melt pathways in the mantle. His exceptional publication record, including multiple papers in top-tier journals like Nature and Science, highlights his significant impact on the field.