P004674 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 2006-02-14 human Annette Alafaci updated 2026-02-05 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P004674b.htm person Kennett Brian Leslie Norman AO FAA FRS AACR2 7 May 1948 Place of Birth Croydon, Surrey, United Kingdom Mathematical physicist Seismologist Brian Leslie N. Kennett is currently Professor of Seismology at the Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University in Canberra. He is also Director of the ANSIR National Research Facility and a Past President of the International Association of Seismology and Physics of the Earth's Interior (IASPEI). He has made numerous discoveries of deep Earth structure, was instrumental in establishing the accepted model by which earthquakes are located, and has conducted a systematic study of the seismic properties of the whole Australian continent. Taken in part from the Royal Society web site http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk/page.asp?id=3173#c6.

After completing a Ph.D. in Theoretical Seismology at the University of Cambridge (1973) Brian Leslie Norman Kennett was appointed a Lindemann Fellow at the Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics (IGPP), University of California, in San Diego. He left in 1975 and took up the post of University Lecturer at the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics at the University of Cambridge. Kennett moved to the Research School of Earth Sciences in 1984 as Professorial Fellow, and was Interim Director of the School in 1993, and Chair of BIAS and Pro-Vice-Chancellor from 1994-1997. He was President of the International Association of Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors (IASPEI) from 1999-2003.

Brian Kennett's research has covered a very wide range of topics in seismology from exploration work with seismic reflection to the free oscillations of the Earth, and has developed Earth models that are now standard in many applications e.g. earthquake location. He has received recognition through the Adams Prize of the University of Cambridge (1983), Fellow of the American Geophysical Union (1987), Fellow of the Australian Academy of Sciences (1994), Jaeger Medal of the Australian Academy of Sciences (2005), Fellow of the Royal Society, London (2005), and the Murchison medal of the Geological Society of London (2006). Bio-sketch (edited) supplied by Professor Kennett, 2006.

1969 1969 Education - Bachelor of Arts (BA), University of Cambridge, UK c. 1970 c. 1970 Education - Master of Arts (MA), University of Cambridge 1972 1976 Career position - Research Fellow at Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge 1973 1973 Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Cambridge 1974 1975 Career position - Lindemann Trust Fellow and Visiting Assistant Research Geophysicist at the Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics (IGPP), University of California, USA 1975 1976 Career position - Senior Assistant in Research in the Department of Geodesy and Geophysics, University of Cambridge 1976 1979 Career position - Assistant Lecturer in Applied Mathematics (and Theoretical Physics), University of Cambridge 1977 1984 Career position - Director of Studies in Mathematics at Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge 1979 1984 Career position - Lecturer in Applied Mathematics, University of Cambridge 1979 1999 Career position - Editor, Geophysical journal international 1980 1981 Career position - Visiting Fellow at the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), University of Colorado, USA (nine months) 1982 1984 Career position - Senior Scientist Visiting Fellow, Royal Norwegian Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (NTNF) at Norsar (Norwegian Seismic Array) in Kjeller, Norway (multiple visits) 1983 1983 Award - Adams, Prize, University of Cambridge 1984 1991 Career position - Professorial Fellow and Head of Seismology at the Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University in Canberra 1988 Award - Fellow, American Geophysical Union 1990 1993 Career position - Chair, National Committee for Earth Science, Australian Academy of Science 1991 Career position - Professor and Head of the Seismology Group at the Research School of Earth Sciences 1991 1999 Career position - Vice-President, International Association for Seismology and Physics of the Earth's Interior 1992 1992 Education - Doctor of Science (DSc), University of Cambridge 1993 Career position - Chairman, Technical Advisory Panel, Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, Commonwealth Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 1993 1994 Career position - Interim Director of the Research School of Earth Sciences (twelve months) 1994 Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA) 1994 1997 Career position - ProVice-Chancellor and Chair of the Board of the Institute of Advanced Studies, Australian National University 1996 Career position - Associate of the Royal Astronomical Society 1996 1999 Career position - Chair, National Committee for Earth Science, Australian Academy of Science 1997 2002 Career position - Deputy Director of the Australian National Seismic Imaging Resource Major National Research Facility 1998 Award - Fellow, American Geophysical Union 1999 2003 Career position - President, International Association for Seismology and Physics of the Earth's Interior 1 Jan 2001 1 Jan 2001 Award - Centenary Medal - for service to Australian society and science in geophysics 2001 2003 Career position - Chair, Institute of Advanced Studies, Australian National University 2002 Career position - Director, Australian National Seismic Imaging Resource Major National Research Facility 2002 Career position - Director of the Australian National Seismic Imaging Resource Major National Research Facility 2002 Career position - Earth Physics Coordinator at the Research School of Earth Sciences 2003 2006 Career position - Editor, Physics of Earth and planetary interiors 2004 2004 Award - Humboldt Research Award received 2005 Career position - Distinguished Professor of Earth Physics at the Research School of Earth Sciences 2005 Award - Fellow, The Royal Society, London (FRS) 2005 2005 Award - Jaeger Medal, Australian Academy of Sciences 2006 2006 Award - Murchison Medal, Geological Society of London 2006 2010 Career position - Director, Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University 2007 Award - Fellow, Geological Society of Australia 2007 2007 Award - Gutenberg Medal, Seismology Division, European Geosciences Union 2008 Career position - Chair, National Committee for Earth Science, Australian Academy of Science 2008 2008 Award - Gold Medal for Geophysics, Royal Astronomical Society, United Kingdom 2011 2011 Award - Matthew Flinders Medal and Lecture, Australian Academy of Science 2017 2017 Award - Inge Lehmann Medal, American Geophysical Union 2019 2019 Award - Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to earth sciences as a leading academic and researcher, particularly in the field of seismology 2019 2019 Award - International Association of Seismology and Physics of the Earth's Mantle (IASPEI) Medal Geological Society of Australia Inc (1952 - )

Fellow 2007 -

 Australian National University (1946 - )

Professor of Seismology, Research School of Earth Sciences 1991 - ; Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chairman of the Board, Institute of Advanced Studies, 1994 - 1997

 Matthew Flinders Medal and Lecture, Australian Academy of Science (1957 - )

Awarded the Medal 2011

 Jaeger Medal, Australian Academy of Science (1990 - )

Awarded the Medal 2005

 Australian Academy of Science (1954 - )

Elected Fellow 1994; Chair, National Committee for Earth Science 1990 - 1993, 1996 - 1999 and 2008 -

Wikidata

VIAF - Virtual International Authority File

 Kennett, B L N (1948-)

Trove

 'Kennett, Brian Leslie Norman', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Kennett, Brian Leslie Norman Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Resource: Matthew Flinders Medal and Lecture Australian Academy of Science Matthew Flinders Medal and Lecture Australian Academy of Science 2025 Resource: Jaeger Medal Australian Academy of Science Jaeger Medal Australian Academy of Science 2025 Journal Article: Emeritus Professor Brian Kennett AO Kennett, Brian Emeritus Professor Brian Kennett AO 2019 Preview 199 14-6 Edited Book: Who's who in Australia 2019 Robson, Alexandra K.; Production Manager and Editor Who's who in Australia 2019 55th Southbank, Vic. AAP Directories 2018