Mark D. Zoback is the Benjamin M. Page Professor of Geophysics at Stanford University, California. He conducts research on in situ stress, fault mechanics, and reservoir geomechanics with an emphasis on shale gas, tight gas and tight oil production. His first book, Reservoir Geomechanics (Cambridge, 2007) is now in its 15th printing. His online course in reservoir geomechanics has been completed by approximately 10,000 students around the world. Dr Zoback has received a number of awards and honors, including election to the US National Academy of Engineering.