The Bullerwell Lecture

“An outstanding, early career British Geophysicist”

About the Bullerwell

This lecture, to be given by ‘An outstanding early career geoscientist’ has been presented each year since 1981 and is one of the principal events in the British Geophysical Association calendar. The Bullerwell lecture, named after the first Chief Geophysicist of the British Geological Survey, is a prestigious event that has been given by many of those UK geophysicists (see below) who are major international Earth Scientists, receiving honours from a wide range of learned societies, academic and governmental institutions.

2024 Bullerwell lecture

The British Geophysical Association is delighted to announce that the Bullerwell Lecturer for 2024 will be Dr. Iraklis Giannakis from the University of Aberdeen.

Iraklis completed his PhD in 2015 on numerical modelling of ground penetrating radar for landmine detection at the University of Edinburgh. This was followed by postdoctoral research positions at Delft University of Technology, the University of Edinburgh, and the University of West London, before moving to the University of Aberdeen in 2020.

The main focus of his research is using innovative artificial intelligence concepts, signal processing and inversion to solve problems in applied geophysics and non-destructive testing. His research extends across a wide range of disciplines and has focused on topics with high societal value such as landmine detection, marine geophysics and forestry applications.

The summary of his Bullerwell lecture can be read here, and the title is: 

  “Exploring the far side of the Moon using Ground-Penetrating Radar”

Past winners:

2023 Mildon, Z. – Variability of earthquakes, faults, and the resulting seismic hazard [view abstract here]

2022 Craig, T. – Seismicity and the deformation of subducting slabs [view abstract here]

2021 Nagy, L. – Beyond single grains and single domains – using big data to answerfundamental questions in rock magnetism [view abstract here]

2020 Bell, R. – Bringing slow slip processes into focus [view abstract here]

2019 Cottaar, S. – Zooming in on the core-mantle boundary [view abstract here]

2018 Mitchell, T. – Earthquake fracture damage and healing: feedback on rupture dynamics [view abstract here]

2017 Biggs, J. – Magma storage and ascent [view abstract here]

2016 Whitehouse, P. – Glacial Isostatic Adjustment – a hot topic in cold regions [view abstract here]

2015 Wright, T. – What can satellite geodesy tell us about fault zone mechanics and seismic hazard in the continents? [view abstract here]

2014 Rychert, C. – Seismic constraints on the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary [view abstract here]

2013 Keir, D. – Magmatism and deformation during continental breakup [view abstract here]

2012 King, M. – Towards accurate observation and modelling of Antarctic glacial isostatic adjustment [view abstract here]

2011 Muxworthy, A. – Magnetic Interactions: Love thy neighbour? [view abstract here]

2010 Dobson, D. – Tectonics of the lower mantle II: mineral physics constraints. [view abstract here]

2009 Rost, S. – Seismic constraints on Earth’s small-scale structure.

2008 Murray, T. – Beneath the ice: geophysical observations at Rutford Ice Stream, West Antarctica.

2007 Milne, G. – Climate driven sea-level change.

2006 Jackson, A. – Understanding the Earth’s magnetic field through observation and theory.

2005 Helffrich, G. – Small-scale seismic heterogeneity and mantle structure.

2004 Ebinger, C. – Continental breakup – impilcations for planetary tectonics.

2003 Kendall, M. – Tectonics of the lowermost mantle.

2002 Sinha, M. – Electromagnetic geophysics and the structure of Mid-Ocean Ridges.

2001 White, N. – Interrogating sedimentary basins.

2000 Jackson, J. – Velocity fields, faulting and continental tectonics: where have we got to?

1999 England, P. – The end of continental kinematics.

1998 Woods, A.W. – Fluid dynamical controls on volcanic eruptions.

1997 Main, I.G. – Statistical physics of earthquakes and faulting.

1996 Meju, M – Geoelectromagnetics, geology and the environment: understanding electrical images of the subsurface.

1995 Warner, M. – Continental lithospheric seismics.

1994 Lovell, M. – The art of borehole geophysics.

1993 Whaler, K. – MAGSAT’s impact on studies of Earth’s internal magnetic field.

1992 White, R.S. – Melting in the Earth: the alliance of seismology and petrology.

1991 Browitt, C. – Earthquakes.

1990 Haworth, R. – Geophysics in the British Geological Survey – the Bullerwell legacy.

1989 Christie, P.A.K. – Applications of borehole acoustics in geophysical exploration: a review.

1988 Watts, A.B. – Flexure of the oceanic lithosphere.

1987 Kusznir, N.J. – The strength of the continental lithosphere.

1986 Westbrook, G.K. – The structure and dynamics of subduction-accretion complexes – the physical evidence.

1985 Shaw, J. – How strong is the Earth’s magnetic field?

1984 Gubbins, D.A. – Secular variation and reversals of the Earth’s field.

1983 Vail, P.R. – Seismic stratigraphy and the evaluation of depositional sequences and facies.

1982 McKenzie, D.P. – Geoid anomalies and mantle convection.

1981 Douglas, A. – Two problems in forensic seismology twenty years on.