About this Research Topic

Background

Seismology is the science of earthquakes and of the propagation of seismic waves they produce within the Earth: it provides information about the physical properties and composition of the layers through which waves travel. Seismology is a relatively young science that has mainly developed in the last 100 years or so as a result of the commitment of men and women scientists from all over the world. The many different branches of seismology - with subjects ranging from seismotectonics to earthquake mechanics or earthquake engineering - make many seismologists work in large and multidisciplinary groups composed of Earth scientists and technicians, where women still remain a minority. At present, less than 30% of researchers worldwide are women. Long-standing biases and gender stereotypes are discouraging girls and women from science-related fields, and STEM research in particular. Science and gender equality are, however, essential to ensure sustainable development as highlighted by UNESCO. In order to change traditional mindsets, gender equality must be promoted, stereotypes defeated, and girls and women should be encouraged to pursue STEM careers.

The aim of this Research Topic is to present the contribution that women researchers provide to the development of Seismology, a key discipline within Solid Earth Geophysics. Women have faced a very difficult historical path in the world of science. The attitude towards female scientists has changed only very recently, while their contributions to science have been, over the centuries, many and important, but often dramatically not recognized. Much has been done in defense of women's rights and gender equality, the process is by no means finished and it is important to create opportunities to reflect on this. Therefore, Frontiers in Earth Science is proud to offer this platform to promote the work of women scientists, in particular in the field of Seismology. To be considered for this collection, the first author should be a researcher who does not identify as a male.

With this Research Topic we would like to highlight the diversity of research performed across the entire breadth of Seismology and the latest advances in theory, experiment, and methodology with applications to compelling problems. It is a tribute to the female scientists, to not forget the difficulties that some of us still face today and to remember the contributions that the women researchers offered in the past, thus joining with an invisible but solid thread their discoveries with works thanks to which today's female scientists enrich Geophysics. It is also an acknowledgement to them for creating the fertile conditions allowing us to dedicate ourselves with passion to the research in this field. For this reason, we will include a short bio of the first authors of the accepted manuscripts once they are published. The bio should be a short introduction of the lead author (up to 100 words each) listing her achievements within this field.

In this Research Topic we aim to highlight the work achieved/led by or impacting women written by leading scientists on any topic of Seismology. We welcome a range of article types, which could address, but are not limited to the following suggestions:
- Seismic tomography;
- Seismogram analysis;
- Analysis of seismic sequences;
- Geodynamic reconstructions;
- Seismic hazard analyses;
- Earthquake mechanics;
- Induced seismicity;
- Seismic interferometry;
- New developments in detection and data processing of earthquakes;
- And other fields, as well as from multi-disciplinary approaches.

Keywords: seismology, seismotectonics, geodynamics catalogue, seismic hazard, seismic monitoring

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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