Seismology on Country: Building a Stronger AuSIS Network in Partnership with First Nations Communities
Image: Christian Bass
‘Seismology on Country’ will strengthen and renew the Australian Seismometers in Schools (AuSIS) network by establishing and upgrading seismic stations in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Overview
Led by Professor David Heslop (ANU) and Dr Sima Mousavi, National Outreach Manager at AuScope, this project will install or upgrade eight AuSIS stations across NT, SA, and QLD. These sites will test new seismometer hardware, 5G‑enabled data transmission, and remote‑maintenance protocols.
These new stations will also help extend national seismic coverage, support STEM learning on Country, and serve as testbeds for next‑generation AuSIS instrumentation as the current network approaches end‑of‑life. The project also aims to embed long‑term community engagement through school visits, workshops, and culturally relevant STEM learning.
The Challenge
The existing AuSIS network is more than a decade old, with many instruments nearing end‑of‑life and requiring a sustainable replacement strategy. Remote regions of Australia remain seismic “blank spots,” limiting national hazard monitoring and earthquake preparedness. Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities also have limited access to STEM infrastructure and opportunities for culturally relevant science engagement.
By installing and upgrading across multiple sites, particularly in remote areas, this will help extend seismic monitoring across Australia for Geoscience Australia’s ‘National Earthquake Alerts Centre’, the National Seismic Hazard Assessment (NSHA) and AusPASS. This will also continue to strengthen STEM engagement across remote communities via AuSIS, promoting geoscience as a field of study and bridging the gap between First Nations knowledge and Western science.
Expected Outcomes
A tested, evidence‑based strategy for full AuSIS network renewal, informed by real‑world performance in remote environments.
Eight operational seismic stations with continuous, high‑quality data flowing to AusPass and international repositories.
Strengthened national seismic monitoring capability through new north–south transect coverage.
Deepened STEM engagement and long‑term partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
What are the benefits?
Improved national earthquake monitoring: With new stations filling critical gaps in remote regions, this will help support better hazard assessments used by government agencies like Geoscience Australia.
Future‑Ready AuSIS network: By replacing and installing next‑generation instrumentation, this will help guide a national renewal strategy for AuSIS, ensuring the program continues to promote and increase awareness of seismology and geoscience as fields of study.
Stronger community partnerships: embedding STEM learning on Country and connecting geoscience with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems will help upskill First Nations communities, aligning with the National Science Priorities.
Who will benefit
Several communities will benefit from this project, including:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, teachers, and communities who gain access to scientific infrastructure, workshops, and culturally relevant STEM learning.
Geoscience researchers, through continuous, high‑quality seismic data from previously unmonitored regions via AusPASS.
Government agencies such as Geoscience Australia, which rely on AuSIS data for earthquake alerts and national hazard assessments.
Schools and educators who receive teaching materials, training, and ongoing engagement on geoscience from the AuSIS team.
Access
Instrumentation access: will be managed through participating schools, with ANU providing technical oversight, remote monitoring and governance. For information on how to get your school involved, please reach out to the team directly.
Data access: all seismic data is fully open via AusPass and the IRIS/EarthScope international data centre in near real time. Direct data feeds are also provided via Geoscience Australia and their ‘National Earthquake Alerts Centre’.
Project Name
Seismology on Country
Project Lead
Timeframe
Jan 2026 to Jun 2027
Status
Active
Funding
Pilot 5
Host
Australian National University (ANU)
Other Collaborators
Geoscience Australia
AuScope Programs
Acknowledging AuScope
This project was made possible by support from the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) through AuScope. Acknowledging AuScope and NCRIS helps us demonstrate the value of shared research infrastructure, ensuring continued support and resources for the research community.
If you helped deliver this project or have benefited from its outputs, please credit AuScope so we can include your work in our impact reporting. For examples of acknowledgment, please visit our ‘Acknowledge AuScope’ page.
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