Yao

On 16 May, my graduate student Erik Weidner successfully defended his PhD thesis. It was a remote defense so we are extra excited to celebrate in person during the graduation ceremony on campus in a little over a week from now! Congratulations Erik!

When your birthday falls during a committee meeting away from home but you are lucky to work with nice friends who help you celebrate #earthscope #bigbirthday #seismology #geophysics #mallofamerica

Lunch time discussions illustrated #earthscope #sagegage2025 #geophysics

Flying from BUR instead of the usual LAX gave me different views of the LA landscape this weekend #losangeles #geology #labasin

I had a great day at the Caltech Sismo Lab today where I gave a talk about the Mars InSight results that came from my group. It’s always a privilege to be invited there, the place where big names like Charles Richter worked.

Spending the day at Caltech to give the seismo lab seminar!

San Antonio at night

Interesting talk last week by prof. Sonia Tikoo-Schantz

As I stepped off the bus in Santa Monica, I saw the Liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Strike-slip fault model demonstration in the lab

Judging middle and high school science fair projects! Reminds me of AGU meetings but with more variety.

Back on campus. I survived the first day of class!

Bathroom sign at the Freeman Public Library in Houston, TX. Don’t worry, men can be astronauts too. They had and equivalent sign for their bathroom.