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Friday, November 19, 2004 New Earthquake Exhibit Rumbles into the Birch Aquarium at Scripps Scripps Institution of Oceanography / University of California, San Diego Earthquakes are coming! See what's shakin' at the Birch Aquarium at Scripps this fall. Become a seismic sleuth as you explore earthquakes in the new interactive exhibit, Earthquake! Life on a Restless Planet, open at the aquarium beginning November 20.Through hands-on displays and activities, visitors can get the scoop on these underground temblors. They will have the opportunity to create and record their own earthquake, construct buildings and test their strength, make seismic waves, and try to beat the clock in the "Living with Earthquakes" challenge. California is earthquake country, and scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography are actively engaged in the study of earthquakes, research that has many practical and potentially life-saving applications. This fascinating research will be featured in Birch Aquarium's newest exhibit, where guests can explore what causes earthquakes, why some areas of the world are prone to earthquakes, and why they can be so destructive. Guests can explore beneath Earth's surface to get an in-depth look at what happens below ground when an earthquake hits. "Earthquakes are part of life in California," said Nigella Hillgarth, executive director of the Birch Aquarium at Scripps. "Scientists here at Scripps Oceanography are leaders in earthquake research, and this exhibit allows the public to explore the latest discoveries, while learning more about San Diego's faults and how Scripps scientists are working to improve techniques for forecasting large earthquakes." Scripps Institution of Oceanography's cutting-edge earthquake research and scientific tools will be highlighted in this exhibit, as visitors witness Earth's seismic activity in real time using the state-of-the-art technology used by scientists in the field and in their labs. Earthquake! will also address how you can best prepare for a major trembler. Earthquakes are a powerful force of nature and a reminder of the constant battles being waged miles below Earth's surface as tectonic plates grind and shift past one another. Southern California experiences about 10,000 earthquakes each year. Although most are too small to be felt, earthquakes are California's most expensive disasters, costing the Golden State more than $60 billion in losses since 1971. Earthquakes continue to fascinate and terrify us-and there is always more to discover about these natural disasters. Visit the Birch Aquarium at Scripps this fall to experience "Earthquake! Life on a Restless Planet" and find out what all the rumbling is about. # # # Note to broadcast and cable producers: University of California, San Diego provides an on-campus satellite uplink facility for live or pre-recorded television interviews. Please phone or e-mail the media contact listed above to arrange an interview. Scripps Institution of Oceanography, at University of California, San Diego, is one of the oldest, largest and most important centers for global science research and education in the world. The National Research Council has ranked Scripps first in faculty quality among oceanography programs nationwide Now in its second century of discovery, the scientific scope of the institution has grown to include biological, physical, chemical, geological, geophysical and atmospheric studies of the earth as a system. Hundreds of research programs covering a wide range of scientific areas are under way today in 65 countries. The institution has a staff of about 1,300, and annual expenditures of approximately $155 million from federal, state and private sources. Scripps operates one of the largest U.S. academic fleets with four oceanographic research ships and one research platform for worldwide exploration. |
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