$8 per person | Doors @ 6:00pm
With Dr. Elizabeth Safran, Associate Professor of Geological Science at Lewis & Clark College
The Pacific Northwest is rocked by the same kinds of giant earthquakes and tsunamis that wreaked such havoc in Japan in 2011 and the Indian Ocean in 2004. But these severe hazards are underappreciated because the last event happened 325 years ago. And unlike California, Oregon lacks many moderate-sized earthquakes in between Big Ones to remind us that we live in earthquake country. The vast majority of Oregon’s infrastructure was built before even geologists recognized how big our Big Ones could be. That means almost all the essential infrastructure in the Willamette Valley and westward is at risk, and some infrastructure failures will themselves create cascading disasters. When (NOT if!) the next magnitude 9 earthquake strikes the Pacific Northwest, it will trigger the worst disaster in U.S. history.
Dr. Safran is a geomorphologist by training (think floods and landslides) and is now obsessed with the Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. She got her undergraduate degree from Harvard University, an M.Sc. from University of Washington, and a Ph.D. from University of California, Santa Barbara. Her most recent research uses custom-made video games in experiments to better understand what motivates young adults to prepare for earthquakes.
Geologist Liz Safran will explain the origins and anticipated consequences of this region’s major earthquakes. She will also touch upon some of the ongoing efforts to reduce risk and build resilience.
About Science Pubs
Science Pubs are a casual lecture series located in fun venues across the region. Grab a drink and settle in as you learn about the consequences of a local 9.0 earthquake in Reckoning With the Big One. Recommended for ages 10 and over.
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Questions? Email sciencepub@omsi.edu
Ticketing questions call 503.797.4000 x0
Frequently Asked Questions
To guarantee a seat at this event, we recommend you purchase your ticket in advance. Please show your ticket at the check-in table upon arrival. We will always have tickets available at the door. They are first-come, first-served and admission will remain a suggested donation.
Yes, the Hillsboro Downtown Station will have several food carts open late to accommodate Science Pub attendees. The indoor bar will be open to guests that are 21+.S
The Hillsboro Downtown Station is fully wheelchair accessible. Seating will be tables with wooden benches, folding chairs, as well as spaces for wheelchairs and other mobility devices.
The Hillsboro Downtown station has a small adjacent lot, though there are additional parking options nearby:
– Parking stalls behind Umpqua Bank at 310 SE Washington Street
City of Hillsboro’s employee lot at 2nd and Washington Street, with 48 standard parking stalls and 2 handicapped parking stalls.
- – The Washington County parking structure at 1st and Washington Street.
On-street parking.
– If you’d prefer to take public transit, there are two TriMet MAX stops near the Station – the closest being 3rd and Washington Street. The next nearest stop is at Adams and Main Street.
Due to technical limitations for this location, the lecture will not be streamed for remote viewing.