2010 IRIS/SSA Distinguished Lecture Series http://www.iris.edu/hq/programs/education_and_outreach/distinguished_lectureship

2010 IRIS/SSA Distinguished Lectureship The Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) and the Seismological Society of America (SSA) are pleased to announce the selection of two experienced speakers from the Earth Science research community for the 2010 IRIS/SSA Distinguished Lectureship Series. IRIS and SSA will cover all of the speakers’ travel and lodging costs for large public venues and can also provide free seismology outreach materials. The speakers and their topics are:

Dr. Stephen Malone University of Washington Department of Earth and Space Science

Predicting Earthquakes and Volcanic Eruptions: What Can and Can’t Now Be Done

and

Dr. Brian Stump Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas Nuclear Explosion Monitoring:

History, Impact and Implications for Seismology Our speakers are chosen each year for their interesting subject matter as well as their ability to convey scientific ideas to a general audience. This Lecture Series will start in January 2010. Please see the IRIS Web site for more information on both the 2010 and ongoing 2009 series, as well as general information on the Distinguished Lectureship program: http://www.iris.edu/hq/programs/education_and_outreach/distinguished_lectureship. We provide new speakers each year, so please also keep us in mind in your future planning.

If you are interested in reserving a speaker, please contact:

Patrick McQuillan mcquillan@iris.edu

202-682-2220

2010 IRIS/SSA Distinguished Lecture Series http://www.iris.edu/hq/programs/education_and_outreach/distinguished_lectureship

Dr. Stephen Malone

University of Washington

Department of Earth and Space Science

Predicting Earthquakes and

Volcanic Eruptions: What Can and Can’t Now Be Done

Predicting disastrous earthquakes and volcanic eruptions is a major goal of earth science research. What is the current state-of-the-art in making such predictions? An apparent paradox is that, while volcanic eruptions can often be predicted using earthquake data, there is currently no scientifically valid method of predicting earthquakes, despite claims often made in the popular press. A valid and socially useful prediction is one that includes size, place and time in more detail than can be expected from random chance. This talk will cover some successful predictions of volcanic eruptions and compare these to some previous attempts at earthquake prediction. What is fundamentally different about earthquakes that make them so hard to predict? What are some promising avenues of research such as "remote triggering" of earthquakes and the newly discovered "Episodic Tremor and Slip (ETS) that may lead to success in the future? Finally, while not true prediction, how could earthquake early warning technology be used today to mitigate some earthquake hazards? Will accurate earthquake forecasting be possible in the near future or will we forever wonder when the next big earthquake will occur?

2010 IRIS/SSA Distinguished Lecture Series http://www.iris.edu/hq/programs/education_and_outreach/distinguished_lectureship

Dr. Brian Stump

Southern Methodist University

Dallas, Texas

Nuclear Explosion Monitoring: History, Impact and

Implications for Seismology

This talk will outline investigations that began by exploring the fundamentals of seismic wave propagation and earthquake source theory. Along the way, the scientific community that has explored these problems has found that their research has application to monitoring nuclear explosions around the world, bringing national and international interactions that can be political in nature. Seismologists working in this area find that they are required to do their science but also contribute to political discussions concerning nuclear weapons. The connection between seismology and nuclear explosion monitoring began at the culmination of the Manhattan Project with the detonation of the first fission nuclear explosion in Southern New Mexico in July of 1945 and continues today with renewed discussions of ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Along this journey comes the establishment of the World Wide Standard Seismic Network followed by the Global Seismic Network and includes the early days of plate tectonics. More recently these activities have expanded into the need for regional seismic arrays and inclusion of additional technologies such as infrasound to supplement the location and characterization of natural and man made events around the world. These developments have not only supported the expansion of the science of seismology including our understanding of natural processes in the earth as well as its structure but have provided a background that has forged international cooperation among scientists around the world. As we look to the future, interests in monitoring global treaties such as the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty will provide new opportunities for both our science as well as our interaction on scientific and political fronts. Dialog between scientists, politicians and the public are critical to the understanding and assessment of these issues.