Earth Dynamics Logo Earth Dynamics Research Group

We study the dynamic distribution and evolution of tectonic plates on Earth through time, geodynamic driving mechanisms and tectonic processes, and their relevance to Earth resources and environments. We have a particular focus on supercontinent cycles, global plume records, and 4D geodynamic modelling. Our research involves palaeomagnetism, all aspects of field-based studies, geochemical, petrological, and geochronological analyses, data-mining, numerical modelling, and regional to global syntheses.

Past Group Photos

IGCP 648: Supercontinent Cycles & Global Geodynamics


This project brings together a diverse range of geoscience expertise to harness recent breakthroughs in order to explore the occurrence and evolution history of supercontinents through time along with the underlying geodynamic processes. This work is supported by:


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Research Highlights
Will Earth’s next supercontinent form by closing the Pacific Ocean or the Atlantic Ocean?

In work recently published in National Science Review EDRG members used sophisticated geodynamic modelling to examine the factors controlling the alternative ways by which supercontinents are formed, and predict how the next supercontinent will likely form.

Figure 1. Amasia

Changes in Earth’s surface landscape from supercontinent Pangea and superocean Panthalassa 200 million years ago (a) to the present-day configuration (b), and three possible ways of forming the next supercontinent Amasia (c-e).

Metamorphic record of 2 billion years of plate tectonics and supercontinent cycles

A recent study led by EDRG member, Yebo Liu, attempted to discover if a clear spatiotemporal correlation between different types of metamorphism and active convergent plate margins holds true back to 2 billion years ago. The study has been published in Geology.

Palaeogeographic maps of metamorphic occurnces.

News

  • Pia Wajarri school students the next science rock stars

    EDRG member Dr Luc Doucet has been instrumental in organising the visit of Pia Wadjarri remote community students to Curtin University in Perth.

  • PhD gradute awarded "best Ph.D" at award ceremony

    Dr Gamaleldien was awarded the Krishna & Pamela Sappal Prize, acknowledging his exceptional doctoral research and producing the best doctoral thesis in Geoscience during 2021.

    Congratulations Hamed!

  • 2022 EDRG Annual Science retreat

    The Earth Dynamics Research Group held their Annual Science Retreat in May, coming full circle to once again visit the venue where the original planning meeting was held in 2016.

  • Article listed in the 2021 Top 100 Scientific Reports

    An article published last year in the journal Scientific Reports, has recently been announced as one of the top 100 most downloaded earth science papers for Scientific Reports in 2021.

    The article reports the discovery that diamonds found in oceanic rocks and the so-called super-deep continental diamonds share a common origin of recycled organic carbon deep within the Earth’s mantle.

  • Welcome new members to EDRG after a long Covid-19 travel freeze!

    The EDRG welcome our first new students since the onset of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Both Ms Maëlys Privat and Ms Yuchi Cui joined us on Curtin University's Bentley campus from early 2022 to undertake their PhD research with our group.

    Welcome Yuchi and Maëlys!

More News and Events

Social Media

Twitter: @EarthDynamicsRG

YouTube: Earth Dynamics Research Group

Important upcoming events

  • The IGCP648 Seminar Series returns!

    The first seminar of series 5 will be held on Thursday 6th October 2022 at 12:00PM (midday) UTC with Dr Nicolas Flament, from the University of Wollongong, Australia, presenting "Setting the lower mantle free".

    Please email us (IGCP648.vss@curtin.edu.au) if you wish to sign up and participate in our future seminar series. Feel free to also email us with any comments, recommendations, or future speaker requests.

    View more information about the seminar series and watch some of the recorded previous seminars.

  • Scientific Reports is having a special collection on plate tectonics and is now open for submission.

    This collection on plate tectonics will be edited by Andrea Billi, Zheng-Xiang Li & Masaki Yoshida and will bring together the latest research across the breadth of the field of plate tectonics.
    Submission Deadline: 30 November 2022.

    The outine of the collection: The theory of Plate tectonics – developed from Alfred Wegener’s theory of Continental Drift to explain the movement of the continents – has become the prevailing theory underpinning our understanding of the Earth; how landforms, and the origin of extreme events. Plate tectonics explains why mountains form, earthquakes happen and why volcanoes occur where they do. Research in plate tectonics is broad, including constructive and destructive plate boundaries, intra-plate volcanism, and the origin and evolution of the lithosphere.

Community Feature Article

 

Prof. Li was recently featured in an article discussing the work that we do in the Earth Dynamics Research Group. The article was produced by Futurum, a magazine and online platform aimed at inspiring young people to follow a career in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

The article also includes a link to an activity sheet for students and teachers. For more information, teaching resources, and course and career guides, see www.futurumcareers.com.

View the article

CCFS Short Course on Snowball Earth by Professor Paul Hoffman

A CCFS-sponsored short course on the global climatic phenomenon known as Snowball Earth was held at Curtin University on 15 July, 2016.

Read More

Traveling Geologist

The work of previous EDRG team member, Chris Spencer, has seen him visit many exotic and remote locations around the world, documented on his travel blog Traveling Geologist. The page has now expanded to provide a platform for other Earth scientists to share their adventures – check out some of the incredible photos and stories.

Visit the website