Our mission is to develop and share cutting-edge earthquake system science to enhance California’s resilience and to educate and inspire future scientists.
The Statewide California Earthquake Center builds on SCEC’s legacy of leveraging cutting-edge research, interdisciplinary collaborations, and a systems-level approach. SCEC now focuses on the entire San Andreas Fault System which allows us to:
Address key science questions in a broader tectonic context,
Strengthen partnerships across disciplines to improve earthquake science and hazard analysis, and
Engage a wider range of participants, from academia and government to the public.
SCEC’s study area now spans the entire Pacific-North American plate boundary, from western Nevada to the Borderlands offshore, and from Baja California to Cape Mendocino. The extensive regional geophysical networks and direct access to major faults of the San Andreas Fault System opens up new research avenues.
Quick Links
SCEC Business Operations
Hub for proposals, reports, profiles, & more
Southern California Earthquake Center
Archived website for the “Southern” Center
With funding from the National Science Foundation, U.S. Geological Survey, and other sources, SCEC collaborates with academic, government, industry, and other organizations to: (1) Gather and analyze data from field observations and laboratory experiments. (2) Develop system-level models and simulations of earthquake processes to synthesize knowledge as a physics-based understanding of seismic hazard. (3) Communicate that understanding to expand knowledge and reduce earthquake risk.
Earthquake System Science and Innovation
SCEC integrates new research and technologies to enhance predictive system-level models and simulations to synthesize knowledge and quantify seismic hazards.
Education and Workforce Development
SCEC prepares the next generation of scientists through transformative research experiences, community building, and professional development.
Outreach and Community Engagement
SCEC engages stakeholders across geoscience and related fields through workshops, drills, and collaborations to advance earthquake science, education, and preparedness.
Earthquake Preparedness and Risk Reduction
SCEC bridges the gap between cutting-edge science and preparedness for a more resilient California, through education, research, and more realistic earthquake simulations.
SCEC Workshop: Community Stress Drop Validation Study
January 20, 2026
SCEC Workshop: Bay Area Fault-Creep
March 3 – 6, 2026
SCEC Workshop: Research Mentor Training
April 23 – 24, 2026
SCEC Workshop: Tandem Training
June 22-24, 2026
2026 SCEC Annual Meeting
August 30 – September 2, 2026
International ShakeOut Day
October 15, 2026
The September SCEC Annual Meeting brings together 400-500 participants worldwide to share breakthroughs, assess progress, and chart a collaborative path for earthquake science.
Through plenary sessions, posters, workshops, and field trips, all of the Center activities are presented, analyzed, and woven into a set of priorities for SCEC to pursue in the coming year and beyond.
Researchers working on topics relevant to SCEC priorities and initiatives are encouraged to engage with SCEC at the annual meeting.
SCEC envisions a future where California is resilient to earthquakes. We engage a diverse community of scientists and students to develop innovative ways to study and understand earthquake hazards. SCEC fosters collaboration among academia, government, industry, and community-based organizations to translate this knowledge into actions that protect lives and livelihoods. Engaging students, early-career researchers, and broadening participation are key priorities for the Center.
