Academic Programmes - Student Biographies
Michelle Grobbelaar
Master's Degree Candidate
University of the Witwatersrand
I am currently registered for a part time MSc in Seismology at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. I have been working for the Seismology Unit for the Council for Geoscience (CGS) (one of the founding members of Africa Array) since 1997.
I have been, and am currently, involved in:
- Managing the South African National Network (from 1998 – 2003), South Africa's role within the CTBTO (1997 – present);
- Managing, and participating in, the CGS projects covering the micro-seismic monitoring around sensitive structures (dams, demolition ranges, mines, etc) (current);
- Managing the CGS participation within the AfricaArray project (current);
- Managing the organisation of the IASPEI 2009 General Assembly in Cape Town (current);
- Managing the CGS side of projects to upgrade the seismograph networks in other countries such as Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia and Rwanda (current);
- Managing, and assisting with, the training of technicians and analysts from other countries (current); and
- Managing, and participating in, an outreach programme to schools in South Africa with the aim to increase the awareness of Seismology within the schools (current).
My MSc studies shall utilise seismic data obtained from the micro-seismic monitoring operations such as open cast mining operations and demolition ranges to assess the effects and impacts of such blasting operations within the near and far fields. This shall be accomplished by the analysis of the ground motion parameters, controlled by the source properties, and the local site effects, controlled by the geology of the area.