SCEC2025 MEETING TOOLS

Online Question Submission

Have a question? Submit it online from your laptop or mobile device. Our session moderators will address it during the Q&A or group discussion, time and relevance permitting.

Catchbox Microphones

Got a question or comment? Ask for a “catchbox” and share your thoughts! These padded mics can be tossed around, so everyone has a chance to speak up from their seat. Let’s keep the conversation going!

Real-Time Captioning and Subtitling

The Hilton audio-visual team is providing AI-powered live captions via Wordly.ai (www.wordly.ai/ai-captioning), which uses machine learning and a custom glossary of meeting-specific terminology to enhance caption accuracy and relevance. Captions will be displayed above the presentation slides to support accessibility and audience engagement. While the system is designed to improve caption quality, it may occasionally misinterpret complex scientific terms, speaker accents, or rapid speech. These captions are a helpful accessibility tool, but should not be considered a verbatim or official transcript.

Share your Favorite Memories

Follow #scecmeet on social media. Take photos and videos, and share your stories in the meeting album at www.scec.org/scec2025-album.

TimeEvent

Sunday, September 7

13:00 - 16:00SCEC Annual Meeting Check-In
13:00 - 16:00Poster Setup: Group A, Plaza Ballroom and Hilton Lobby
13:00 - 16:00
Meet with USC's Director of Research Advancement and Strategic Initiatives, Dr. Heidi Smith Parker, for practical insights into today's evolving funding landscape. Tailored for early career researchers, this opportunity offers the chance to ask questions, receive direct feedback on your proposals, and explore strategies for aligning with funder priorities while adapting to new expectations.
13:30 - 15:00"Quake Heroes" Film Screening, Horizon Ballroom
This 55-minute documentary film portrays how neighbors, firefighters, scientists, nurses, engineers and the media helped people in the aftermath of the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Through interviews, live-action reenactments, news footage, and SCEC animations and safety guidance, a very compelling and motivational story is told. A brief discussion will be held at the completion of the film, including how attendees can request screenings for their institution or other organizations in their communities.
16:00 - 17:30
Session 1: State of SCECHorizon Ballroom
ModeratorsTran Huynh (USC) and Gaby Noriega (USC)
This opening session kicks off the annual meeting with an update from the Director on the Center's recent milestones and upcoming priorities. The External Advisory Council will offer perspectives on navigating the changed landscape, followed by highlights from SCEC teams on outreach, education, and community engagement initiatives. The science leadership will then present recent achievements, including updates on the SCEC Community Earth Models---setting the stage for deeper exploration in subsequent discussions and poster sessions.
16:00 - 16:20State of SCEC from the Director, Yehuda Ben-Zion (USC) & Ahmed Elbanna (USC)
16:20 - 16:30
Report from the Board of Directors, Rachel Abercrombie (Boston University)
16:30 - 16:40Report for the External Advisory Council, Steve Bohlen (LLNL)
16:40 - 16:55Community Engagement & Workforce Development, Mark Benthien (USC), Tran Huynh (USC), & Gaby Noriega (USC)
16:55 - 17:15SCEC Research Highlights, Greg Beroza (Stanford) and Alice Gabriel (UCSD)
17:15 - 17:30SCEC Community Earth Models, Scott Marshall (Appalachian State) & Patricia Persaud (Arizona)
17:30 - 18:30

Distinguished Lecture from Tom Rockwell (SDSU), Off-Fault Deformation and Seismic Hazard: Insights into Variations Across Southern California's Strike-Slip Faults and Their Implications for Maximum Magnitude (Mmax)

18:30 - 20:00

Welcome Dinner, Hilton Poolside

20:00 - 22:00
Poster Viewing 1 (Group A), Plaza Ballroom and Hilton Lobby 
The poster room and virtual poster gallery are open!
20:00 - 22:00Grounds for Funding: A Strategic Coffee ChatPlaza Ballroom Foyer

Monday, September 8

07:00 - 08:00Continental Breakfast, Hilton Poolside
07:00 - 08:00
Join fellow students and early-career peers and connect with experienced SCEC researchers in a relaxed, informal setting. Participants will gain valuable insights on networking strategies, fostering collaboration, maintaining work-life balance, and more. 
08:00 - 10:00
Session 2. Forecasting Earthquakes with Continuous Data: From Lab to FieldHorizon Ballroom
ModeratorsMax Werner (Bristol) and W. Ashley Griffith (Ohio State)
Advances in tools like DAS, fiber-optic geodesy, continuous waveform analysis, and AI are transforming earthquake forecasting and hazard assessment. This session surveys how we can leverage continuous data for nowcasting, forecasting, or precursor identification---from lab experiments to field-scale applications---and explores new frontiers in real-time monitoring and predictability science.
08:00 - 08:15Remarks for the USGS, Gavin Hayes, Senior Science Advisor for Earthquake and Geologic Hazards
08:15 - 08:30Session Introduction and Overview, Max Werner (Bristol) & W. Ashley Griffith (Ohio State)
08:30 - 09:00The Potential of Earthquake Forecasting with Fiber-Optic SensingJiaxuan Li (Houston)
09:00 - 09:30Heterogeneous high frequency seismic radiation from dynamic rupture interactions with a normal stress bumpSara Beth Cebry (USGS)
09:30 - 10:00Collaboration Planning Discussion
10:00 - 10:30Live Poster Lightning Talks (Group A), Horizon Ballroom

10:00 - 12:00

Poster Viewing 2 (Group A), Plaza Ballroom and Hilton Lobby

10:30 - 13:00
Meet with USC's Director of Research Advancement and Strategic Initiatives, Dr. Heidi Smith Parker, for practical insights into today's evolving funding landscape. Tailored for early career researchers, this opportunity offers the chance to ask questions, receive direct feedback on your proposals, and explore strategies for aligning with funder priorities while adapting to new expectations.

12:00 - 13:30

Group Lunch, Hilton Poolside, Terrace Restaurant, Tapestry Room

14:00 - 16:00
Session 3. Risky Communications: New Approaches to Talking about Earthquakes in a Challenging WorldHorizon Ballroom
ModeratorsBrian Olson (CGS) and Lisa Grant Ludwig (UC Irvine)
In an era where social media influencers, AI-generated news, and misinformation often outpace traditional science communication, how do we effectively convey earthquake hazard and risk to promote community resilience? This session explores innovative strategies for engaging diverse audiences through emerging platforms, navigating misinformation, and rethinking the role of trusted voices in a rapidly evolving media landscape.
14:00 - 14:15Remarks for the Cal OES, Jose Lara, Seismic Hazards Branch Chief
14:15 - 14:30Session Introduction and Overview, Brian Olson (CGS) & Lisa Grant Ludwig (UC Irvine)
14:30 - 15:00Navigating Earthquake Information in the Age of AI: What Science Communicators Need to Know About News and AI Generated Earthquake ContentSamantha Stanley (UC Berkeley)
15:00 - 15:30Do consumers of news secretly love earthquakes? Hear from a reporter on strategies to get out good, accurate information to the publicRong-Gong Lin (LA Times)
15:30 - 16:00Collaboration Planning Discussion

16:30 - 18:00

Poster Viewing 3 (Group A): Poster viewing in the Plaza Ballroom, Hilton Lobby, and the online poster gallery. This is the final dedicated session for Group A posters. Authors must remove their posters by 6:00 pm, when Poster Viewing 3 ends.

18:00 - 20:00Poster Switch Out: Group A posters removed by 6:00 pm. Group B posters installed by 8:00 pm.

18:30 - 20:00

Group Dinner, Hilton Poolside

20:00 - 22:00Poster Viewing 4 (Group B): Poster viewing in the Plaza Ballroom, Hilton Lobby,  and the online poster gallery. This is the first dedicated session for Group B.
20:00 - 22:00Grounds for Funding: A Strategic Coffee ChatPlaza Ballroom Foyer

Tuesday, September 9

07:00 - 08:00Continental Breakfast, Hilton Poolside
08:00 - 10:00
Session 4.  Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and Digital Twins for Earthquake ScienceHorizon Ballroom
ModeratorsDaniel Trugman (UNR) and Gareth Funning (UC Riverside)
The growing intersection of computational power, big data, machine learning, and geoscience is transforming how we understand and model earthquake processes. This session explores cutting-edge computational approaches---such as digital twins for fault systems, AI applications, and novel data integration methods---that are advancing earthquake science toward more comprehensive predictive capabilities.
08:00 - 08:15Remarks for the NSF, Luciana Astiz, Program Director
08:15 - 08:30Session Introduction and Overview, Daniel Trugman (UNR) & Gareth Funning (UC Riverside)
08:30 - 09:00Toward Trustworthy AI for Earth Science: Lessons from Climate Modeling and a Vision for Earthquake Science, Karianne Bergen (Brown)
09:00 - 09:30Enhanced earthquake detection with graph neural networks: Applications to northern California seismicity, Ian McBrearty (Stanford)
09:30 - 10:00Collaboration Planning Discussion
10:00 - 10:30Live Poster Lightning Talks (Group B), Horizon Ballroom

10:00 - 12:00

Poster Viewing 5 (Group B), Plaza Ballroom and Hilton Lobby

12:00 - 13:30

Group Lunch, Hilton Poolside, Terrace Restaurant, Tapestry Room

14:00 - 16:00
Session 5.  The Influence of Fault Rheology from Tremor to RuptureHorizon Ballroom
ModeratorsAmanda Thomas (UC Davis) and Wenyuan Fan (UCSD)
This session explores how material properties and fault rheology influence earthquake nucleation, rupture propagation, and seismic hazard. Drawing on experimental rock mechanics, in-situ and remote observations, and numerical modeling, we will address topics such as strain localization, inelastic off-fault deformation, pore pressure evolution, and the roles of damage and healing in earthquake cycles, and how they affect earthquakes and faulting across scales.
14:00 - 14:15Remarks for the FEMA, Jon Foster, Senior Earthquake Program Manager
14:15 - 14:30Session Introduction and Overview, Amanda Thomas (UC Davis) & Wenyuan Fan (UCSD)
14:30 - 15:00California's Geological Framework and Consequent Fault-System Behavior, Mike Oskin (UC Davis)
15:00 - 15:30Do fault material properties and rheology govern shallow slip behavior in strike-slip fault systems? Alexis Ault (Utah State)
15:30 - 16:00Collaboration Planning Discussion

16:30 - 18:00

Poster Viewing 6 (Group B): Poster viewing in the Plaza Ballroom, Hilton Lobby, and the online poster gallery. This is the final dedicated session for Group B posters. Authors must remove their posters by 6:00 pm, when Poster Viewing 6 ends.

18:30 - 20:00Group Dinner, Hilton Poolside

Wednesday, September 10

07:00 - 08:00Continental Breakfast, Hilton Poolside
08:00 - 10:00
Session 6.  Understanding Rupture Dynamics and Improving Physics-based Ground Motion SimulationsHorizon Ballroom
Moderators: Roby Douilly (UC Riverside) and Domniki Asimaki (Caltech)
Understanding dynamic rupture, including directivity effects and rupture speed, is central to predicting strong ground motions and to understanding earthquake physics. This session features insights from the Mw 7.5 Mandalay, Myanmar earthquake and their relevance to California, along with recent advances in physics-based ground motion simulations. We explore their rupture characteristics, ground motion observations, and implications for California fault systems.
08:00 - 08:15Remarks for the PG&E, Albert Kottke, Geotechnical Earthquake Engineer
08:15 - 08:30Session Introduction and Overview, Roby Douilly (UC Riverside) & Domniki Asimaki (Caltech)
08:30 - 09:00Probing Rupture Dynamics and Ground Motion Signatures from Induced and Natural Earthquakes, Elisa Tinti (Sapienza)
09:00 - 09:30Simulating Seismic Wavefields using Generative Artificial Intelligence, Rie Nakata (LBNL, ICSI)
09:30 - 10:00Collaboration Planning Discussion

10:00 - 10:30

Break

10:30 - 12:00
Session 7. The Path Ahead: Co-Envisioning SCEC's Next PhaseHorizon Ballroom
ModeratorsGreg Beroza (Stanford) and Alice Gabriel (UCSD)
With a new Center Director appointed, SCEC will enter its next chapter in 2026. Ahmed Elbanna will share his vision for the future amid a changing environment, funding constraints, and emerging opportunities. He will outline strategies for advancing earthquake science, education, outreach, and preparedness in California and beyond---emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration, community engagement, and societal resilience.The session will conclude with an open forum inviting the community to help shape SCEC's future priorities.
10:30 - 10:45Session Introduction and Overview, Greg Beroza (Stanford) & Alice Gabriel (UCSD)
10:45 - 11:30A Vision for the Future, Ahmed Elbanna (USC)
11:30 - 11:45Collaboration Planning: Shaping SCEC's future priorities for advancing earthquake science, education, outreach, and preparedness in California and beyond
11:45 - 12:00Closing Remarks from the SCEC Director, Yehuda Ben-Zion (USC)
12:00SCEC2025 Adjourns

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