UT geophysics professor in it for the people

Luc Lavier, a professor and researcher at the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics, and his colleagues in the geophysics community may one day be able to forecast when and where earthquakes will occur years in advance. But the science that will get us there, he said, may require collaboration as much as it does calculations.

In April, Lavier became the second recipient of the Evgueni Burov Medal, an award given by the International Lithosphere Program for mid-career achievements and service to the geophysics community. Those who work with Lavier say the combination of his important contributions to his field and his collaborative spirit earned him the award.

Thorsten Becker, a professor and researcher who works with Lavier, said Burov — a renowned geophysics professor who died unexpectedly in 2015 — became a positive force in the geophysics community not only because he was able to link the rock structures found on the Earth's surface to the processes that create them underneath, but also because he approached geophysics in an open and collaborative way that supported up-and-coming geophysicists.

"I think Luc embodies both those characteristics of Burov in a very nice way," said Becker, who nominated Lavier for the award.

Lavier said he was surprised but happy to receive the medal. He said the award should increase the recognition of the school, which will hopefully tempt more students to apply. UT was ranked the No. 7 best school for studying geophysics by "U.S. News & World Report" in 2018.

Both Burov and Lavier are known for using computational mathematics to create predictive — Lavier calls it "forecasting" — models for geodynamic processes, a subfield of geophysics that studies the physics of the Earth.

Lavier works specifically on the movement of tectonic plates, researching how and why they are moving against or on top of one another. He said his research could have many important applications, such as forecasting earthquakes and where fossil fuels may lie underground. Once you understand the patterns of Earth's geological features and events, he said, you can forecast seismic occurrences, much like meteorologists forecast weather.

Simone Puel, a doctoral candidate at the Institute for Geophysics, said Lavier is a pioneer in this type of modeling. He said Lavier is a positive influence at the university not just for being a "sunny" person who creates a happy environment for students, but because he works collaboratively by sharing his codes.

Collaboration is critical in geophysics, Lavier said, because it brings many different scientific disciplines together. A geophysicist might work with biologists, chemists and geologists all over the world in their research, he said, making good communication skills fundamental.

"If you don't work together," Lavier said, "you won't see whole system."

Lavier said he was curious about the Earth even as a child. Growing up in Burgundy, France, he said he was fascinated by the fossils of sea creatures he found in the hills where wine grapes were grown, and wondered how they ended up there.

Later in life, when he was studying quantum mechanics while earning his bachelor's degree in theoretical physics, Lavier said he realized he might be more "useful" studying the physics of the Earth instead of subatomic particles. He said he liked the work because it brought him closer to people.

"It's looking at the Earth in a dynamic way and how it will affect people," Lavier said.

In general, Becker said, geophysics can be used to gain insight into many important issues, such as climate change, and could even tell us more about what causes favorable climatic conditions for life to persist over Earth's history. Locally, he said, geophysics holds answers to questions like to what extent fracking and wastewater storage is causing earthquakes in Texas.

"If you like having a car, a geophysicist can help you find fossil fuels," Becker said. "If you want to know how a climate is messed up by climate change, a geophysicist can help you with that, too."

After 15 years in his field, Lavier said geophysics has completely changed his view of Earth.

"Even 200 kilometers below your feet there are rocks moving," he said.