CUHK
News Centre
CUHK team awarded the First Prize in Earthquake Science and Technology by the Seismological Society of China
Professor Yang Hongfeng and his team at the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) have been awarded the First Prize in Earthquake Science and Technology by the Seismological Society of China (SSOC), as the sole recipient from Hong Kong to receive this honour. The award rewards their pioneering contributions to advancing earthquake science.
Professor Yang said: “I am honoured to receive this prestigious award from the Seismological Society of China, which recognises the academic excellence of my team. This distinction reinforces our commitment to advancing cutting-edge research in seismology. I plan to focus on near-fault observations to deepen our understanding of the factors that control earthquake rupture propagation, contributing to more accurate seismic hazard assessments. In addition, I am launching new projects addressing seismic hazards in the Greater Bay Area, where recent findings highlight urgent concerns. While the probability of a major earthquake in this region remains low, the potential impact would be severe due to its large population, dense infrastructure and significant economic output.”
The awarded project, “Theory of Hypocenter-dependent Magnitude and Near-fault Observations: New Breakthrough in Understanding Mechanisms of Earthquake Ruptures”, explored how earthquakes initiate and evolve. Over the past 10 years, Professor Yang’s team has broken new ground. They have carried out close-up studies in the deepest ocean trench on Earth and developed novel techniques to analyse near-fault data to uncover their frictional properties and how earthquake ruptures propagate. Their search revealed how fault friction and the earthquake’s starting point, or hypocentre, influence rupture behaviour and damage potential, offering new insights that can improve earthquake forecasting and preparedness.
The SSOC, established in 1979, is the most influential professional society in the field of earthquake sciences in China. In 2024, it introduced the Earthquake Science and Technology Award to recognise individuals and organisations that have made outstanding contributions to the development of earthquake science and technology in the nation. The SSOC held its 19th conference in Nanchang, Jiangxi province from 11-13 November 2025.
Awardee list: https://www.ssoc.org.cn/Detail1.html?id=10&contentId=485
From left: Professor and CAS academician Zhang Peizhen, President of the Seismological Society of China; Professor Yang Hongfeng, Professor in CUHK’s Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences; Professor Xu Min from South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
