TELLING THE EARTHSCOPE STORY: AN OVERVIEW OF USARRAY PUBLIC OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

EarthScope, a program funded by the National Science Foundation, has deployed thousands of geophysical instruments across the conterminous US to explore the structure and evolution of the North American continent and gain insights into the origins of earthquakes and volcanoes. USArray, the seismic and magnetotelluric observatories operated and maintained by IRIS, has conducted a variety of activities that involve students and inform the general public about EarthScope. Examples include the highly successful Transportable Array Student Siting Program that employed students and faculty from colleges and universities in the identification of sites for future Transportable Array stations in their region, and a range of informal education and media opportunities where information about EarthScope and its discoveries are shared with educators and the public.

During the course of eight summers, more than 135 students from about 55 institutions conducted site reconnaissance for nearly 1375 Transportable Array sites from the West Coast to the East Coast, and from the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes and southern Canada. While telling the EarthScope story to potential volunteer hosts, students who participated in the program increased their professional skills and deepened their personal growth. Other students had opportunities to engage in EarthScope-related research as part of the Research Experiences for Undergraduates program.

Several EarthScope-focused outreach products for the public and educational audiences have been developed including Ground Motion Visualizations, EarthScope-centric and regional content sets for the IRIS Active Earth Monitor, and animations of earth processes. There have also been articles published in university, local and regional newspapers; stories appearing in national and international print and broadcast media; and documentaries produced by some of the world’s most respected scientific and educational production companies that have included a segment about EarthScope and the Transportable Array.

Over the next five years, USArray will deploy and operate Transportable Array stations in Alaska and western Canada. This challenging environment will offer new opportunities to connect with communities throughout the region, including native populations.