Zhenming Wang's research is broad, ranging from geology, geophysics, geotechnical and environmental engineering, geologic hazards, to public policy on geologic hazard mitigation. Dr. Wang leads a research and service group at the Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS) in the fields of geologic hazards and applied geophysics http://www.uky.edu/KGS/geologichazards /geologichazards.html.

His current research includes:

1. Operation and maintenance of the Kentucky Seismic and Strong-Motion Networks (KSSMN). KSSMN currently consists of 19 seismic stations and 10 strong-motion stations (http://www.uky.edu/KGS/geologichazards/equake3.htm). The seismic network is capable of monitoring any earthquake occurring in Kentucky with a magnitude larger than 2.0, as well as major earthquakes in the central United States. The strong-motion network is designed to record strong ground motions that have engineering significance in the New Madrid Seismic Zone.

2. Seismic hazards and risk assessment and mitigation policy in the central United States. Although it is not fully understand what the causes are, earthquakes are continuing to occur in and around Kentucky. Earthquakes will affect humans, buildings, and bridges (seismic hazards) and pose risk to communities. It is very difficult to predict earthquakes. Seismic hazards and risk can be assessed, however. It is a challenging job to assess seismic hazards and risk because of large uncertainties of seismological parameters. It is a more challenging job to help communities at risk to set policies to mitigate the risk. These are rewarding jobs because the general public can see the benefit of geo-sciences to the society through them.

3. Near-surface geophysics and applications in geologic mapping and engineering. Most human activities are on the earth's surface. The properties and distribution of near-surface soil and rock are important information for human and environment. Near-surface geophysics provides a powerful tool to effectively and economically characterize the soil and rock properties.

Wang, Z., 2006, Seismic Hazard and Risk Assessment in the Intraplate Environment: The New Madrid Seismic Zone of the Central United States, GSA Book, Continental Intraplate Earthquakes: Science,Hazard, and Policy Issues (in press).

Wang, Z., 2006, Understanding Seismic Hazard and Risk Assessments: An Example in the New Madrid Seismic Zone of the Central United States, Proceedings of the 8th National Conference on Earthquake Engineering, April 18-22, 2006, San Francisco, CA, Paper no. 416.

Wang, Z., and E.W. Woolery, 2006, Recordings from the Deepest Borehole in the New Madrid Seismic Zone, Seismological Research Letters, 77: 131-136.

Wang, Z. and L. Ormsbee, 2005, Comparison between probabilistic seismic hazard analysis and flood frequency analysis, EOS, Trans., AGU, 86(5): 45, 51-52.

Wang, Z., E.W. Woolery, B. Shi, and J.D. Kiefer, 2003, Communicating with Uncertainty: A Critical Issue with Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis, Eos, 84(46): 501, 506, 508.

Wang, Z., I. P. Madin, and E. W. Woolery, 2003, Shallow SH-Wave Seismic Investigation of the Mt. Angel Fault, Tectonophysics, 368: 105-117.

Wang, Z, E. W. Woolery, and J. A. Schaeffer, 2003, A Short Note on Ground-Motion Recordings from the June 18, 2002, Darmstadt, Ind., Earthquake, Seismological Research Letters, 72: 148-152.