معرفی
Professor Ake Fagereng is a Professor in Structural Geology at the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University. He has been with Cardiff University since 2014, initially as a Lecturer in Structural Geology (2014-2017), then as a Reader in Structural Geology (2017-present), and currently as a Professor. Prior to Cardiff, he was a Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Cape Town (2010-2014). He also holds an honorary position as a Research Fellow in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Cape Town (2014-present).
Professor Fagereng's primary research focuses on how the Earth deforms and how this deformation is recorded in rocks. His work integrates field investigations of active and ancient deformation structures with microstructural analysis and geochemical techniques to understand:
- Seismic styles in subduction zones (from creep through slow slip events to giant earthquakes)
- Rift formation processes and the role of pre-existing structures
- Causes of large earthquakes far from plate boundaries
- Interplay between fluids (water and melt) and deformation processes
His recent research has been significantly supported by an ERC-funded MICA project, which explores geological processes controlling fault slip speed and varied behavior of faults accommodating tectonic deformation in the Earth's crust. The project investigates why some faults experience slow earthquakes while others generate damaging seismic events, addressing critical questions of societal importance regarding earthquake hazard.
Professor Fagereng has received numerous prestigious awards for his contributions to geoscience, including:
- Outstanding Young Scientist Award from the European Geosciences Union (2016)
- International Visiting Fellow at Kyoto University, Japan (2016)
- Excellent Reviewer Award from Earth, Planets, and Space (2015)
- Editor's Citation for Excellence in Refereeing from the American Geophysical Union (2013)
- President's Award from the National Research Foundation, South Africa (2013)
As a dedicated educator and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Professor Fagereng teaches across undergraduate programs at Cardiff University, specializing in structural geology, tectonics, and geodynamics. He has served as Director of Fieldwork from 2015 to 2018 and regularly leads field courses in Cornwall, North Wales, Spain, and Cyprus. His research portfolio demonstrates consistent contributions to understanding earthquake processes, fault mechanics, and tectonic deformation through extensive international collaborations and fieldwork in diverse tectonic settings worldwide.
