by Erin Schuster, SCEC Education Program Assistant, USC

Larger imageProfessor James Lawford Anderson engages the students in his talk about Earth Science

On May 2, 2009, the Southern California Earthquake Center, in conjunction with the USC Earth Science Department, hosted the first Science and Technology Day at the main USC campus. This event was modeled after the Science and Technology Awareness Days held annually in Exposition Park, just south of the USC campus. Approximately 200 students joined exhibitors for a day of learning, with topics ranging from earth science and earthquakes to optics and gravity.

Larger imageThe students put together the puzzle as Christina Gotuaco explains the Earth's tectonic plates

The day started off with a guest lecture by James Lawford Anderson, a professor of Earth Science at USC. From there, the students were encouraged to visit each of the exhibitors' tables where they could complete activities and receive stamps in small booklets SCEC created and distributed to them. Several participating organizations included the American Society of Civil Engineers, Boeing, the Science Education Center of California, the USC Department of Earth Sciences, and several City of Los Angeles departments. The day culminated with a shake-table contest, in which the students built structures and tested to see how long they would last under earthquake-like conditions.

In addition to hosting the event, SCEC had three tables among the exhibitors where the students were able to learn more about earthquake science. One table, led by Christina Gotuaco, enabled students to put the jigsaw-like tectonic plates of the earth's crust back together like a puzzle. At the next table Erin Schuster showed students how seismic activity could be used to create focal mechanisms and determine the type of fault that broke during an earthquake. The final table presented a chance for students, with the help of Warren Yamashita, to make their own models of three common types of faults.

When asked about the day and the exhibits, parents and teachers who attended the event with their students were very positive. One parent commented that it was a unique chance for her children to get to experience aspects of science they had previously only heard about in the classroom. As they packed up, several exhibitors also expressed that they thoroughly enjoyed the event and the interaction they were able to have with the students. At the end of the day, the students left the event with a better understanding of the areas of science presented by the diverse range of exhibitors and activities, and a better comprehension that science is a viable and interesting course of study to pursue.

Larger imageLed by Erin Schuster, students learn how to use focal mechanisms to find fault types

Larger imageWarren Yamashita helps a student construct a fault block model

Larger imageShake-Table Contest