With multiple NASA and ESA missions planned to explore Venus in the coming decade, there's a significant opportunity to deepen our understanding of the planet. However, these missions won't provide insight into Venus's seismic activity, a crucial aspect for understanding its tectonic processes and interior structure.

Here, we bring you face-to-face with Dr. Iris van Zelst from the German Aerospace Centre in Germany, who together with her team aims to address this gap in the neutral and welcoming environment at ISSI Bern. Their interdisciplinary team brings together expertise in seismology, geology, and geodynamics to assess Venus's seismic activity theoretically and instrumentally. Their goal is to estimate current seismicity using geodynamic models and surface fault mapping, and to explore the feasibility of various seismic observation techniques, including surface-based methods, balloon-based observations, and orbital techniques. By consolidating theoretical and instrumental findings, the team aims to advance Venus seismology, inform future mission payloads, and extend Venus science beyond the current decade.

Listen to Iris as she talks about their research and outreach engagements to bring Venus one step closer to all of us.