EARTHQUAKES ACROSS BORDERS

It doesn’t take extensive scientific training to experience an actual earthquake or to understand the source of the devastation seen after major earthquakes and tsunami around the world. Any student of any age, ethnicity, or native language can experience the actual seismic waves of an earthquake without having to understand that they are seismic waves. This experience can be exciting or devastating, depending upon the magnitude of the earthquake and the proximity of its hypocenter. Feeling an earthquake, without also experiencing loss of property or life, can be an exciting and memorable event.

When the inevitable ‘Why?’ is asked about such an event, this is an opportunity to expose and develop important scientific principles and concepts in earth science and seismology. There are several ways that these teaching moments can be leveraged. Waubonsee Community College has been recording earthquakes using an AS1 seismometer that is prominently displayed in our Science Building since 2005, as part of our role as an Educational Affiliate of IRIS. Although deceptively simple, the AS1 seismometer has recorded over 400 earthquakes since 2005, averaging about 70 per year that are mostly teleseismic. Using real time data from our AS1, as well as other IRIS and internet resources, teachable moments are leveraged into increased earth science literacy and the process of science in our classrooms within a few hours of an actual event. This multi-year data set that has been acquired on our campus is used in cognitivist activities in labs and classrooms for our students that have personal meaning. Interpretations and hypotheses that are developed can also provide stepping off points for discussions on the nature of scientific inquiry when discussing local events in the craton, such as those associated with the New Madrid Seismic Zone. Local events may also provide the opportunity to expand ‘teachable moments’ to a broader audience using local TV media.