Dr. Robert J. Lillie has been a Professor of Geology at Oregon State University since 1984, where he teaches courses in physical geology, oceanography, tectonics, geophysics, geological writing, and public interpretation. He is author of “Parks and Plates: The Geology of Our National Parks, Monuments, and Seashores” (W. W. Norton and Company, 2005) and is a Certified Interpretive Trainer (CIT) through the National Association for Interpretation (NAI). In 2007 he became the Manager of Education and Outreach for EarthScope. Dr. Lillie was born and raised in the Cajun Country of Louisiana. He has a B.S. in geology from the University of Louisiana – Lafayette, and an M.S. in geophysics from Oregon State University. He worked three years in oil exploration in the Rocky Mountains before earning a Ph.D. in geophysics from Cornell University, where he worked with deep-crustal seismic reflection data through the COCORP project. Dr. Lillie’s research is focused on the crustal structure and tectonic evolution of mountain ranges formed by the collision of continents, including the Himalayas in India and Pakistan and the Carpathians in Central Europe. He is also author of “Whole Earth Geophysics: An Introductory Textbook for Geologists and Geophysicists” (Prentice Hall, 1999), used in college courses in the U. S. and other countries. Since 1994 Dr. Lillie has collaborated with the National Park Service (NPS) on educating the public in geology. He has been a seasonal interpretive ranger at Crater Lake and Yellowstone national parks and John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, and he and his graduate students have written and illustrated geology training manuals for several NPS sites. Dr. Lillie has presented seasonal training on geology at many parks, as well as workshops at annual NAI meetings. At the 2005 Geological Society of America meeting, Dr. Lillie was presented an award from the NSP Geological Resources Division for “outstanding contributions in engaging the National Parks staff and visitors in geoscience.”

Dr. Robert M. de Groot is the Education Programs Manager for the Southern California Earthquake Center, an NSF and USGS Center headquartered at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. His responsibilities include managing SCEC’s three internship programs and K–12 formal and informal education programs. Under his leadership he established Earthquake Education and Public Information Centers (EPIcenters), a network of informal learning institutions devoted to enhancing earthquake education programs and exhibits. Dr. de Groot has nine years of classroom experience as a chemistry educator at the secondary and university levels and has worked as an informal educator at the California Science Center in Los Angeles and Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. As a researcher, his work has taken him into the lab and the field to study stratospheric ice clouds, river ecology, the active faults of California, and enzyme biochemistry. Dr. de Groot holds an M.A. with an emphasis in chemistry and Earth science education from Northern Arizona University and a Ph.D. in science education from the University of Southern California. His doctoral research investigated the use of analogy in science communication. As a science education researcher, Dr. de Groot is currently investigating the role of models and model building in science. This interest stems from a desire to understand and characterize how models function within the process of “doing” science. In addition, he is interested in understanding how models used by specialists are applied in media and educational settings. He is an active member of the American Chemical Society (ACS), serving in 2009 as president of his local chapter. On the national level Dr. de Groot serves on the ACS Committee on Community Activities and the ACS Committee on Public Relations and Communications.

Kathleen Springer has been at the San Bernardino County Museum (SBCM) since 1989, where she is now the Senior Curator of Geological Sciences. She has lead geologic and paleontologic investigations throughout southern California, Arizona and Nevada and has been instrumental in developing fossil resource management guidelines for county, state and federal agencies. Kathleen earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in Geological Sciences from the University of California, Riverside with an emphasis in paleontology. She specializes in the application of stratigraphic controls and geologic interpretations to paleontologic investigations, and stresses the importance of detailed data recovery and full curation of recovered specimens in such studies. Her efforts have led to the recovery and preservation of thousands of significant fossils and their associated data that currently reside in the SBCM. With grant funding from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Kathleen is currently mapping and documenting late Pleistocene vertebrate localities in the extensive spring deposits of the Upper Las Vegas Wash as well as implementing the State of Nevada’s first Site Stewardship program for the BLM in this area. She also is conducting research in Joshua Tree National Park in the eastern Pinto Basin and the Eagle Mountains. Kathleen has done extensive work in north central Nevada and is currently continuing studies on Silurian-Devonian boundary graptolite faunas as well as geologic mapping in the Simpson Park Range. Kathleen has been recognized by the Association of Environmental Professionals for environmental education and by the California Mineralogical Society. Since 2004, Kathleen and her curatorial colleagues in Geological Sciences have been focused at the Museum on creating all of the exhibits for the upcoming Hall of Geological Wonders. The central theme in the Hall is to actively connect the visitor with the fact that mighty geological processes reveal the paleontologic history of the region. We also strive to illustrate in an engaging way that science is a process, where we can explain our hypotheses put forth in every exhibit by demonstrating the multiple lines of evidence – thereby allowing visitors to evaluate for themselves.

Wendy Bohon graduated from James Madison University in 1998 with a B.A. in Theatre and Geology. She then spent 7 years working as the Outreach and Education Coordinator for the U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program in Southern California where she gave earthquake education talks to schools, local community groups and news organizations, as well as assisted in many teacher workshops. While working for the USGS, Wendy saw first hand how critical geologic and seismic hazards communication and education is to people who live in earthquake prone regions. After completing an MS in Geology/Geomorphology at The Ohio State University in 2006, she came to Arizona State University where she is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Tectonic Geomorphology. She has worked on many earthquake-related projects including the B4 LiDAR project in Southern California, climate and tectonic studies in Northwestern Argentina, GPS deployment projects in Bolivia and thrust fault studies in the Andean Precordillera of Argentina. Wendy’s research interests include geomorphology, paleoseismology, landscape evolution and geologic hazards communication.

Dr. James P. Evans is a Professor in the Department of Geology at Utah State University. His research interests lie in figuring out how structures form by using mapping, laboratory measurements, geochemistry, computer graphics, and structural analysis. In addition, he and his students integrate their work with hydrogeology, applied mathematics, and mechanics to develop a sound understanding of the processes of rock deformation and fluid flow, and how to predict the properties and structure of deformed rocks over time. Dr. Evans’ research focuses on: 1) fault zone studies, and fault zone hydrology; 2) development of geologically and mechanically based stochastic models of fault development; and 3) structural analyses of deformed rocks. He and his students are involved in research incorporating the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth (SAFOD) of the NSF EarthScope Program. Dr. Evans teaches a variety of courses, including Introductory Earth Science, Structural Geology, Field Methods, Mechanics of Earth Processes, and Geologic Field Camp -- a 4 week intensive capstone class for geologists. He received B. S. degrees in Geology and Engineering in 1981 from the University of Michigan, followed by M. S. (1983) and PhD degrees in Geology from Texas A&M University. Dr. Evans has been on the faculty at Utah State since 1987. In his spare time he is the editor of the Journal of Structural Geology, which publishes the results of research on structural geology and rock deformation.

Dr. Kenneth W. Hudnut studies earthquakes as a geophysicist for the U. S. Geological Survey in Pasadena, California. He serves as Geodetic Coordinator on the U.S. Earthquake Program Council and leads the Southern San Andreas Fault Evaluation (SoSAFE) Project for the Southern California Earthquake Center. In recognition for contributions made to the global navigation and positioning industry, notably his leadership of the new GPS L1C signal design, he was selected by GPS World as one of “50+ Leaders to Watch” in 2007. For the USGS Multi-Hazards Demonstration Project, he led the earthquake source design and computer simulations of the ShakeOut scenario, a simulated magnitude 7.8 earthquake on the San Andreas Fault. Since receiving his Ph.D. from Columbia University in 1989, and his A.B. from Dartmouth College in 1983, he has published over 80 scientific papers. He is a Visiting Associate in Geophysics on the faculty of the California Institute of Technology.

Dr. Lucy Jones is a seismologist with the U. S. Geological Survey in Pasadena, California and a Visiting Research Associate at the Seismological Laboratory of the California Institute of Technology. She is Chief Scientist of the USGS Multi-Hazards Demonstration Project for Southern California, integrating hazards science with economic analysis and emergency response to increase community resiliency to natural disasters. Dr. Jones is also a Commissioner of the California Seismic Safety Commission, which advises the governor and legislature on seismic safety, and she serves on the California Earthquake Prediction Evaluation Council. Her research involves the physics of earthquakes, foreshocks and earthquake hazard assessment, and the seismotectonics of southern California. Her awards include the Alquist Award from the California Earthquake Safety Foundation, the Shoemaker Award for Lifetime Achievements in Science Communication from the USGS, and the 2007 Award of Merit from the Los Angeles County Emergency Preparedness Commission. Dr. Jones has a BA in Chinese Language and Literature from Brown University and a PhD in geophysics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (Modified from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_Jones).

Dr. Sally F. McGill is a professor of geology at California State University, San Bernardino. She is an active member of the Southern California Earthquake Center and the Southern San Andreas Fault Evaluation (SoSAFE) project. Dr. McGill studies active faults in southern California, including the San Andreas, San Jacinto, and Garlock faults as well as the faults that ruptured in the 1992 Landers and 1999 Hector Mine earthquakes. Her primary expertise is in neotectonics and paleoseismology, using field-based techniques to study active faults, including geologic mapping, excavations across the faults, and collection of GPS data to measure elastic strain accumulation in the vicinity of active faults. Dr. McGill has also developed and led hands-on activities and field trips related to plate tectonics and earthquakes for groups of K-12 students.

Jolene Redvale is the Curator of Education for the San Bernardino County Museum (SBCM). She began her work in informal education as an intern, writing text for the Museum’s exhibit section. There she recognized the need to communicate to visitors in a meaningful, interpretive fashion. Jolene earned a BA in Natural History Museum Studies and Exhibits Techniques, a self-designed major. She worked as a Park Interpreter with the Riverside County Parks and Open Space District. Along the way she taught Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) classes and started a consulting business creating interpretive programs. Jolene became the Curator of Education at SBCM and earned an MA focused on Environmental Education from California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) in 1997. Shortly thereafter she began teaching in the Environmental Education and Museum Studies programs at CSUSB. Jolene has presented professional development workshops for teachers in natural and cultural history subjects, both through the Museum and as an independent consultant, focusing museum-related topics to curricula and state standards. Jolene is a Certified Interpretive Guide through the National Association for Interpretation. She trains volunteers annually in interpretive skills and helps staff develop and conduct interpretive programs on a wide variety of topics.