Prof. Li named as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science
Professor Zheng-Xiang Li, Head of the Earth Dynamics Research Group, has received the outstanding honour of being named as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. This accolade recognises the immense contribution Prof. Li has made to the field of Earth Sciences over his career.
Professor Li has used a vast array of geoscience techniques and supercomputing tools to better understand how the Earth, and it’s deep interior, works and uncover mysteries of its past. He played a fundamental role in discovering two ancient global supercontinents, Rodinia and Nuna, which expanded our knowledge of global palaeogeography back to two billion years ago, and beyond. Professor Li has also led breakthrough research which dramatically improved our understanding of what drives plate tectonics.
“This is an accomplishment I did not even dare to dream of. It demonstrates how wonderful and lucky a country Australia is, where everything is possible no matter what background one comes from,” Professor Li said.
“I thank the many great minds, old and young, from around the world who inspired me to do better and helped me along my academic journey.
“I am particularly grateful to my past and present team members within the Earth Dynamics Research Group for sharing my pursuit to understand how Earth evolved and how its engine works — and thank you to my family for always standing with me, no matter what.”
This well-deserved recognition of Prof. Li’s extraordinary achievements will be celebrated in September when he will be formally admitted to the Academy during Science at the Shine Dome.
While already a remarkable body of work, Prof. Li’s research is still reaching new heights (or in this case depths) as his work is continuing to push back even further into the geolocial past, and reaching all the way into the inner core of the Earth. We are excited to see where the research leds next.
Congratulations Professor Li!