Initial Publication Date: December 2, 2011
Wallace Creek

Hazards Webinar Series:
March 16, 2012

What's Shaking at SCEC? Education and Outreach Resources for Earthquake Preparedness -- Mark Benthien, Education Director, Southern Califormia Earthquake Center (SCEC)


Time - 12:00 pm Pacific | 1:00 pm Mountain | 2:00 pm Central | 3:00 pm Eastern
Duration - 1 hour. The presentation will be 40 minutes, followed by 20 minutes of discussion.
Format - Online web presentation via phone and Blackboard Collaborate web conference software with questions and answers following.

Registration is now closed.

Mark Benthien

About the Author:

Mark Benthien is Director for Communication, Education and Outreach (CEO) for the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC), headquartered at the University of Southern California (USC). He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Geophysics from the University of California Los Angeles in 1995, and a Master of Public Policy degree from USC in 2003.

Mark Benthien communicates earthquake knowledge to end-users and the general public in order to increase earthquake awareness, reduce economic losses, and save lives. To do this he 1) coordinates productive interactions among SCEC scientists and with partners in science, engineering, risk management, government, business, and education; 2) manages activities that increase earthquake knowledge and science literacy at all educational levels; 3) leads efforts to improve earthquake hazard and risk assessments; and 4) promotes earthquake preparedness, mitigation, and planning for response and recovery.

He is also the Executive Director of the Earthquake Country Alliance, a statewide coalition of earthquake preparedness/mitigation advocates, in which capacity he is the lead coordinator of the Great California ShakeOut earthquake drill.

Webinar Overview:

The Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) is a community of over 600 scientists, students, and others at over 60 institutions worldwide. Its mission is to:

  • gather data on earthquakes in Southern California and elsewhere;
  • integrate information into a comprehensive and physics-based understanding of earthquake phenomena; and
  • communicate understanding to society at large as useful knowledge for reducing earthquake risk

SCEC communicates earthquake science and preparedness information via four focus areas: education programs and resources for students, educators, and learners of all ages; public outreach activities and products for the general public, civic and preparedness groups, and the news media; knowledge transfer activities with practicing professionals, government officials, scientists and engineers (with research partnerships coordinated within the SCEC Seismic Hazard and Risk Analysis focus group); and SCEC Community development activities and resources for SCEC scientists and students. Please join us to learn more about how you can use these resources in your own instructional setting and how to better prepare your community for earthquake hazards!

Materials from the Webinar

PowerPoint Presentation: What's Shaking at SCEC? Education and Outreach Resources for Earthquake Preparedness (PowerPoint 69.4MB Mar15 12)

Watch the Screencast (MP4 Video 95.8MB Mar16 12) of the Webinar.

References and related links

Other resources on Volcanic Hazards Topics from the On the Cutting Edge program:

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