Dr Sima Mousavi

I am an observational seismologist and AuScope’s National Outreach Manager, based at the Australian National University. My research interests span Earth imaging from the upper crust to the core–mantle boundary and earthquake source modelling using three-dimensional Earth models.

I lead the Australian Seismometers in Schools (AuSIS) Network, a national initiative supported by AuScope that integrates research-grade seismic monitoring with Earth science education and outreach. I manage a network of more than 50 broadband seismic stations installed in schools across Australia, supporting high-quality data flow while creating opportunities for students to engage with real seismic data. I am passionate about science communication and regularly visit schools to share the excitement of seismology and inspire the next generation of Earth scientists.

My fieldwork experience includes seismic deployments at Lake Eyre and the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, the SWAN project in Western Australia, a distributed acoustic sensing experiment in New Zealand’s South Island, and a nodal seismometer retrieval in the Taupō region of the North Island. A recent highlight was contributing to the installation of Australia’s deepest live-streaming seismic station, part of the permanent national network, located one kilometre underground at the Stawell Underground Physics Laboratory.

Research Interests

My research focuses on observational seismology, seismic tomography and earthquake source studies. I use seismic observations to image Earth structure from the crust to the core–mantle boundary and investigate the structure and dynamics of the Earth's interior.

I am particularly interested in intraplate earthquakes and the determination of their focal mechanisms and centroid moment tensor (CMT) solutions using three-dimensional Earth models. This work aims to improve our understanding of earthquake source processes in stable continental regions, where earthquakes occur far from active plate boundaries.

Selected Awards, Projects & Grants:

• 2026 ACT Young Tall Poppy Science Award, Australian Institute of Policy and Science (AIPS).
• Seismology on Country, AuScope Opportunity Fund: S. Mousavi, D. Heslop, M. Sambridge
• GSWA-ANU Research Collaboration: "Investigating seismic anisotropy, seismicity, and structure beneath the WA-Array." C. Eakin, M. Miller, R. Pickle, S. Mousavi, & P. Zhang (ANU). 2023-2026.
• ANU ECR Travel Grant: To attend the IUGG/IASPEI 40th General Assembly, Montreal, Canada, 2019.

Service: 

• Sep. 2025 – Present: Co-Chair, IASPEI Commission on Education and Outreach
• Aug. 2025 – Present: Member, Geoscience Awareness Reference Group. Australian Academy of Science, National Committee for Earth Sciences.
• Aug. 2024 - Aug. 2026: Chair of the Outreach Committee at RSES
• 2021 - Present: Member of the Outreach Committee at RSES
• May 2024 - Aug. 2025: RSES Representative on the Fieldwork and Off-Campus Advisory Group
• May 2024 -Aug. 2025: Member of the WHS Committee at RSES
• 2019 - 2021: Member of the IDEA Committee at RSES
• 2019 - 2021: RSES Representative on the College of Science and Medicine IDEA Committee

Engagement with Media:

• 2022: Woods Point Earthquake coverage – featured in Canberra Times, ABC, and ANU Reporter. My research attracted significant media attention, resulting in 140 media items across TV, radio, and online platforms, reaching a total potential audience of 1.7 million people across Australia.
• 2022, 2017: Coverage of Australia’s biggest ever ‘footy-quake’ at a Raiders game.
• 2018: Outreach for AuScope, celebrating Earth Science Week
• 2017: Featured in Canberra Times for recording thunderstorms on the seismometers at ANU.