Hands-On Earthquake Engineering

About Dr. Wendy Bohon

Dr. Wendy Bohon is a geologist who studies earthquakes and works to improve the communication of hazard and risk before, during, and after rapid onset geologic hazards. She has worked on many tectonics related projects in her career, including the B4 LiDAR project in Southern California, climate and tectonics studies in Northwestern Argentina, GPS deployment projects in Bolivia, thrust fault studies in Argentina, and the tectonic evolution of the southwestern margin of the Tibetan Plateau in India. She is also an If/Then Science Ambassador and has been featured in books like "Quake Chasers" and on TV shows like "Mission Unstoppable."

About the class

How do engineers and architects design buildings to withstand powerful earthquakes? In this class you won’t just learn about it, you’ll do it! Join earthquake geologist Dr. Wendy Bohon to conduct some hands-on earthquake engineering experiments as you explore the forces that make buildings shake and build structures that can withstand them.

Hands-on participation is optional but recommended (and very fun). To join in, you’ll want to have the following supplies handy:

•Either 4 binder clips, 4 strips (cut 2 inches wide) of poster board, and scissors OR 10 strands of spaghetti and a handful of raisins.
•Four pieces of poster board cut to 5” by 5”.
•20 pieces of poster board cut to 6” by 1”.
•20 pieces of poster board cut to 8” by 1”.
•Masking tape.
•4 quarters (or other coins).
•A large sheet of cardboard or a table (this will be your “shaketable”)