Summary

Workshop: This SCEC workshop, to be held in Pismo Beach, California on June 2-3, 2026, will convene earthquake geologists and modelers to address key limitations in how geologic observations of faulting and past earthquakes are incorporated into earthquake-cycle, seismic hazard, and geodetic models. A central focus will be the improved curation, organization, and interpretation of geologic and geometric fault and earthquake datasets to better support model testing and validation.

The specific goals of the workshop are to:

1. Foster sustained collaboration between modelers and researchers who generate geologic records of fault slip, rupture extent, slip rates, and the timing and regularity or irregularity of past earthquakes across California.
2. Identify and prioritize the types and locations of geologic data that are most needed to reduce uncertainties in seismic hazard models and to more rigorously evaluate earthquake simulators.
3. Constrain and explore the implications of discrepancies between deformation models informed by geologic data and those based primarily on geodetic observations.

The primary outcome of the workshop will be a written planning document that defines the scientific and data priorities for a new community effort focused on Understanding Natural Recurrence of Earthquakes and Slip over Time (UNREST). The UNREST plan will articulate priorities for new or enhanced open‑source geologic cyberdatabases needed by the modeling community, and will outline collaborative research directions to be pursued jointly by geologists and modelers.

Field Trip (optional): An optional all-day field trip is planned for June 1, with check-in at 07:30 and departure at 08:00 from the hotel. The itinerary begins with a visit to the Carrizo Plain to examine key features of the San Andreas Fault. Stops will focus on constraints on fault slip rate, evidence of recent surface-rupturing earthquakes, and implications for earthquake timing. The trip will then proceed westward toward the central Coast region, with additional observations of active fault systems and regional seismic hazard considerations. The day concludes at the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Facility near Pismo Beach, where discussions will address the interaction between active tectonics, site characterization, and infrastructure risk assessment.

Participants: We welcome applications from, and aim to achieve a balanced representation of, participants from two complementary research communities:

1. Observational and Field-Based Geoscientists whose work focuses on generating geologic constraints on fault systems, including fault locations and geometries, fault slip rates, off-fault deformation, slip distributions in past earthquakes, the timing and regularity or irregularity of prehistoric earthquakes, and interactions within fault networks.
2. Modelers who use these geologic constraints to develop, calibrate, or evaluate a range of modeling approaches, including seismic hazard models, earthquake-cycle simulations, geodetic or mechanical deformation models, AI-assisted identification of active faults, and related modeling frameworks.

We also seek a balance across career stages, including graduate students, early-career researchers, and established investigators, to promote cross-generational exchange and collaboration. Workshop capacity is limited to 35 participants, who will be selected based on their statement of interest and the potential contribution to the workshop objectives.

Accepted participants will be notified by April 24, 2026, with details on registration payments, hotel reservations, and additional travel support if applicable.

Registration Fees

The workshop registration fee is $135, which covers venue expenses, lunch, and coffee breaks on the workshop days (June 2-3).

The optional field trip is an additional $110 fee, which covers transportation, lunch and snacks during the field trip on June 1.

Travel Support

Applicants should complete the travel support section carefully as part of the application process. Students, early‑career researchers, and participants without institutional funding are especially encouraged to apply for travel support. Subject to available funding, SCEC travel support may include travel to the workshop venue, lodging and/or meal expenses.

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