Science for Alaska Lecture Series

This is a free all ages public lecture. 

Earthquakes are an integral part of Alaska’s landscape. The Alaska Range, the Aleutian Islands, and even the glaciers of the Panhandle owe their existence to seismic motions. These examples show the breadth of earthquakes across the state. Their variety and extent make it challenging to anticipate the consequences of the next big one. The very notion of the “the big one”—a singular well-defined earthquake catastrophe—does not apply in Alaska. There are many “big ones.” 

This talk will focus on why some earthquakes are catastrophes and others are not. We will examine the specific vulnerabilities in Alaska and the potential scenarios that might play out. The goal is not to create fear but to look objectively at real risks and examine how we plan as communities.