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On April 1st, we marked the beginning of a new chapter in the long and productive collaboration between SCEC and the U.S. Geological Survey. With the start of a new three-year cooperative agreement, we continue a partnership that has shaped earthquake science for decades. Thirty-five years ago, the USGS and the National Science Foundation funded SCEC as a hub for earthquake science in Southern California. That alliance helped launch what would become one of the most influential earthquake science collaborations in the world.
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At a time when the value of federally funded science has never been more important to demonstrate, we are especially grateful to continue our strong partnership with the USGS. Together, we will keep pushing the boundaries of earthquake systems science and societal resilience by taking on one of the field’s greatest challenges: earthquake and ground motion forecasting. As part of this cooperative agreement, we have established seven high-priority areas to advance that goal: community earth models, ground motion simulations, validation and utilization, large earthquake scenarios for the State of California, earthquake simulators, post-earthquake response, and public preparedness. The SCEC community will redefine what is possible in these fields as they come together in teams and envision different technical activity groups (TAGs). These TAGs will serve as community-grown coordinated research and analysis efforts that go beyond the execution of individual or loosely connected projects. The deadline to submit your TAG proposal is May 8th, and if you have missed our virtual town hall on April 3rd, the recording is now available here. I cannot wait to see what you bring forward in your TAG ideas and proposals.
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This re-alignement moment also follows another important milestone for our community. On February 1, SCEC turned 35! Looking back at the very first annual meeting offers a powerful reminder of the vision and leadership that built this community. Over the past 35 years, SCEC, together with its partners and stakeholders, has grown into a collaboration of more than 1,000 researchers across more than 70 institutions. It has pushed the frontiers of earthquake science, translated that science into products that improve our understanding of seismic hazard and contribute to seismic risk reduction, cultivated the next generation of earthquake scientists, and helped educate the public about earthquake preparedness.
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As we celebrate this anniversary and the renewed USGS partnership, I want to express my gratitude to all of you who have shaped SCEC’s first 35 years and who will help define its future. The strength of this center has always come from its community: the researchers, students, staff, partners, and stakeholders whose collective work has made SCEC such an important force in science and society. I am excited for all that we will accomplish together in the years ahead.
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Ahmed Elbanna, SCEC Director
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