To commemorate 100 years of the Caltech Seismo Lab, join Dr. Lucy Jones and a panel of experts at Beckman Auditorium, Caltech Campus, on November 12 as they share what classic disaster movies got right (and wrong) about the impacts of earthquakes. The event is free, but tickets are required.
Register for the event and submit your questions for the panelists here.
From the 1925 Santa Barbara quake to 1994’s Northridge temblor, earthquakes have helped define the physical and cultural landscape of Southern California. For more than a century, Caltech’s Seismological Laboratory has transformed understanding of earthquakes and geophysics through advanced instrumentation, data science, experimentation, engineering, and public outreach.
To celebrate the Seismo Lab’s centennial, the Caltech Science Exchange, in collaboration with the Dr. Lucy Jones Center for Science and Society, will host a public event that explores the science behind onscreen earthquakes in films such as 1974’s Earthquake and 2015’s San Andreas. Moderated by seismologist Lucy Jones, a panel of scientists, engineers, and public officials will provide insight into what happens during and after earthquakes, how scientists and government officials interact, and the future of the field. Audience members will see Hollywood earthquake hits and misses, and have the opportunity to ask questions of the panelists.
Panelists:
Lucy Jones, Founder, Dr. Lucy Jones Center for Science and Society
Domniki Asimaki, Caltech Professor of Mechanical and Civil Engineering
Chris Holden, Assemblymember, California State Assembly, 41st District
Jon O’Brien, Acting Chief Deputy, Los Angeles County Fire Department
Zhongwen Zhan, Caltech Professor of Geophysics
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