Shaken and Stirred: The Cost of Earthquakes and How Science Can Help
Recent earthquakes around the world, including those in Haiti (M 7), Chile (M 8.8), New Zealand (M 6.1) , and Japan (M 9) remind us of the devastating impact of earthquakes on society. The Haiti earthquake killed more than 300,000 people and the 2011 Japan earthquake had an economic impact of more than $ 300 B and affected the global economy. However, it is important to note that the application of earthquake science and earthquake engineering through modern building codes, as well as public awareness, saved thousands and thousands of lives in Chile, Japan and New Zealand. Earthquake science has changed drastically over the past two decades. From the use of satellites in space to seismographs on the seafloor, this lecture will summarize some of the ways that modern earthquake science helps to protect society from the effects of earthquakes. Topics will include earthquake hazards in Canada, the applications of earthquake science to national (and international) codes and standards, earthquake forecasting methods, and the development of earthquake early warning systems.
Biography of speaker:
Dr. John Cassidy is a Research Scientist with the Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada (Victoria, BC) and Head of the Earthquake Seismology Section. He is also an adjunct Professor at the University of Victoria, School of Earth and Ocean Sciences where he teaches courses and supervises graduate students. John was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, raised in Victoria, and has lived in Vancouver and Ottawa. He completed his B.Sc. in Honours Physics at the University of Victoria, and his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Geophysics at the University of British Columbia. John specializes in earthquake hazard studies in Canada, and during the past 20 years he has published more than 150 scientific and public information articles. John works closely with the engineering community and emergency management organizations that utilize the results of earthquake research, and he is extremely active in public outreach activities. John served as a member of the Canadian Association of Earthquake Engineers Reconnaissance Team that travelled through the regions of Chile that were hardest-hit by the magnitude 8.8 earthquake of 2010. John works closely with scientists in Chile, Mexico, the United States, Japan, Italy and France to help minimize the impact of future earthquakes.
2011 Herzberg Lecture
When: Wednesday, November 9 at 7:30 pm
Where: Kailash Mital Theatre
This is a free public lecture. A reception will follow the event.
Free parking in Lot 1 - Library Garage.