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From an IRIS Lecture Tour to a General Audience Book About
Midwest Earthquakes
Seth Stein (Northwestern University)
Following earthquakes of public interest, seismologists
are effective at explaining to the media about
the earthquake’s location, magnitude, and tectonic
setting. However, the underlying research questions
are typically not discussed, in part owing to the challenge
of explaining ongoing and unresolved scientific
questions. As a result, we often do not show the
public the challenges and complexities of earthquake
research. An exception is IRIS/SSA Distinguished
Lectures, which give the speaker the motivation and
time to explain earthquake research in some depth.
In 2006 I gave IRIS/SSA lectures on "Giant earthquakes:
Why, Where, When, and What We Can
Do” at a number of science museums. Although the
focus was on the largest earthquakes, the lecture also
explained general concepts of plate tectonics, earthquakes,
seismology, and earthquake hazards. Giving
the lectures was interesting and satisfying, and indicated
that the material could be presented using an
approach that focused on the key ideas and unresolved
issues. Based on this experience, I have incorporated
much of this material in a new book written
for a non-technical audience: “Disaster Deferred:
How new science is changing our view of earthquake
hazards in the Midwest” that will be published in fall
2010 by Columbia University Press.
“Disaster Deferred: How new science is changing our view of earthquake hazards in the
Midwest” will be published in fall 2010 by Columbia University Press.
2010 IRIS Core Programs Proposal | Volume II | education and outreach | II-29