The Stanford Office for Science Outreach, the Cantor Center for Visual Arts, and Stanford Continuing Studies join together to invite you, your friends, and family (high school age and up) to campus this summer to experience the wonders of art and science. Come around 5:00 pm and wander through the acclaimed Cantor Museum, then buy dinner and/or drinks at the Museum's Cool Café, and join us at 7:00 pm on lawn chairs outside of Cantor for a fascinating glimpse into the world of scientific research. On five Thursday evenings throughout the summer, Stanford will present lectures from its top researchers on subjects ranging from an environmental success story to the unraveling of mysteries of the human body, the earth, and ancient texts. The lectures will be delivered in lay terms that the general public can understand. Plenty of time will be made available for questions and answers following each talk. Both entrance to the Cantor Museum and the lecture series are free to the public. Several hundred people can be accommodated. An organic buffet BBQ dinner will be available for purchase at the Cool Café in the Museum from 5:00 until 8:00 PM, with both meat and vegetarian options, along with wine, beer, soft drinks, desserts and coffee (cash only).
OUTDOOR TALK 3
100 years after 1906: A Century of Progress in Understanding Earthquakes and Their Effects
Although earthquake prediction remains elusive, earth scientists have made tremendous progress in understanding how, why, and where earthquakes occur. Much of modern seismic hazard analysis has its foundations in the knowledge and understanding that came out of the careful study of the 1906 earthquake. In this centennial year of that event, it is fitting to review the progress in earthquake research over the past century. The speakers—a husband and wife—will talk about the current status of earthquake prediction efforts, including the potential for breakthroughs from exciting new experiments they are carrying out. They will share information about a recent discovery of seismic rumblings and fault movements and new techniques to indicate times of increased earthquake probability in various regions.
MARK ZOBACK - Professor of Geophysics
Professor Zoback's principal research interests are related to the forces that act within the earth's crust and their influence on processes related to plate tectonics, earthquakes and oil and gas reservoirs. As a Principal Investigator with “EarthScope”, a nationwide earthquake research program, Professor Zobak's team has built an observatory three kilometers deep into the San Andreas Fault to study the physical state and behavior of one of the world's most active faults.
MARY LOU ZOBACK - Senior Research Scientist with the United States Geological Survey
Dr. Zoback is a member of the Western Earthquake Hazards Team, and serves as the Regional Coordinator for the USGS Northern California Earthquake Hazard Program. Her primary research interest is the relationship between earthquakes and stress in the earth's crust. Dr. Zoback has served on numerous national committees and panels on topics ranging from continental dynamics, storage of high-level radioactive waste, and science education.