Personal Statement
Ben is an engineering seismologist with experience in research and development in both academic and industrial contexts. His research focuses on improving scientific understanding of earthquake ground motions, seismic hazard and risk, and seismic site characterization.

Ben works with earthquake and geophysical data at a variety of scales, from investigating small, induced events related to geothermal energy, gas extraction, hydraulic fracturing or CCS—often in extremely close proximity to urban environments—to larger tectonic (natural) events, all of which have the potential to cause significant impacts, even in relatively aseismic regions such as northern Europe.

Ben is the Head of Discipline for Earth Sciences at the University of Liverpool, and teaches on courses related to geophysical computing, applied geophysics and signal processing. He previously spent several years working at the Swiss Seismological Service and ETH Zurich, where he was involved in day-to-day seismic observatory practice, alongside research activities. Ben currently works and consults on various national and international projects related to induced seismicity and seismic hazard, both in academia and industry. Recently, he led a review, commissioned by the UK regulator, into seismic hazard and risk due to induced seismicity at the Preston New Road shale gas site in England.

Research Overview

Past and Present Projects

1. Hazard and Risk due to Induced Seismicity at Preston New Road, UK (OGA)
a. Phase 1 (PNR-1) Interim
b. Phase 2 (PNR-2)
2019 – 2020

2. New challenges for Urban Engineering Seismology’ — ‘URBASIS’ http://urbasis-eu.osug.fr (EU)
2018 – 2022

3. Northwest England Seismic Network (UoL)
2016 – 2021

4. Seismic Hazard and Risk due to induced seismicity in Groningen (NAM) Phase 1 - 7
2014 – 2021

5. How do earthquake ruptures propagate through clay-rich fault zones? (NERC)
2017 – 2021

6. Rapid deployment of a seismic array in Ecuador following the April 16th 2016 M7.8 Pedernales earthquake (NERC)
2016 – 2017

7. Development of a UK ground motion model for the UK (ARUP/Horizon Nuclear)
2015 – 2017

8. The European Plate Observing System – Implementation Phase (EPOS-IP) (EU)
2015 – 2019

9. Swiss National Seismic Hazard (ETH Zurich, Swiss Government)
2014 – 2015

10. Swiss Nuclear Safety Inspectorate Strong Ground Motion Expert Advisory Group
2011 – 2015

11. REAKT – Strategies and Tools for Real Time Earthquake Risk Reduction (EU)
2011 – 2014

12. GEOSIM (Realization of industry pilot projects in geothermal energy (ETH, Industry)
2014 – 2015

13. GEISER (Geothermal Engineering Integrating Mitigation of Induced Seismicity in Reservoirs (EU FP7)
2010 – 2013

14. SHARE (Seismic Hazard Harmonization in Europe (EU FP7)
2010 – 2013

15. PEGASOS Refinement (SSHAC 4 Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis for Swiss Nuclear Power Plant Sites (swissnuclear)
2008 – 2013