The Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) Geophysics Section has been involved in earthquake monitoring from all over the world since 1978. DIAS has implemented an educational outreach programme, aimed at primary and post primary school sectors where DIAS staff members visit schools to talk about earthquakes and other areas of scientific research carried out at the Institute.

The Seismology in Schools (Seismeolaiocht sa Scoil) Pilot Project is being introduced and promoted by the Geophysics Section as a result of increasing interest by students in earthquakes, and environmental science in general. The possibility of actually recording earthquakes in near real-time in the classroom is a significant development in the classroom study of seismology. This is made possible by the development of a very cost effective seismometer (SEP Seismometer) designed by our partner the British Geological Survey. The Geophysics Section has already bought 7 of these sensors and we intend to loan these to interested schools on a rotation basis. The Section will be encouraging schools who are keen to develop the project long term to eventually buy their own seismometers which cost about €500.  

The Geophysics Section undertakes to train the teachers who decide to participate in the programme and they will be supported by DIAS staff in the schools as needed. Teachers will be able to:

·        Set-up, calibrate, operate and troubleshoot their SEP seismometer

·        Use data collected from their SEP seismometer as an integral part of their seismology/plate tectonics instruction

·        Participate as part of a larger community of educational seismometer users

There are various learning outcomes depending on the educational sector being trained:

·        Students at primary level will be introduced to the working of the seismometer, how to protect it, how to use it, what it measures, how to use the data it produces, what one can do with the data.

·        learn about the structure of the earth and  simple models to explain the interior of the earth, plate tectonics and ideas about faulting. Material covered in class is reinforced by colouring projects of what has already been discussed and computer based animations.

There is a significant amount of computer animated teaching material also available to teachers for use in the classroom. A considerable amount of time will be spent researching and comparing earthquake recordings and data exchange with other students which will require computer broadband facilities. The idea here is to simulate in the classroom for students, as near as possible, the day to day operations of a scientist (in this case a seismologist) and reinforce the role that pure science plays in everyday work.

The post primary programme will introduce students to seismology and will emphasise the fundamental mathematics and physics laws on which seismology is based.

·        coordinate geometry, x, y, and z axis 3 component systems, Theory of elasticity, stress, strain and Hooke’s Law

·        wave motion, P-waves, S-waves, Love waves and Raleigh waves, Snell’s Law, dispersion, reflection and refraction

·        History of the development of seismology, and what standard seismological observatory procedures are in operation for the evaluation of an earthquake

·        How to locate an earthquake and interpret the data contained in a seismic trace.

·        Exchange and compare seismic data with schools in other countries of a given earthquake

The Geophysics Section of DIAS is introducing this pilot programme as its contribution to the International Year of Planet Earth Programme as inaugurated by the UN earlier this year. The International Year of Planet Earth aims to ensure greater and more effective use by society of the knowledge accumulated by the 400,000 or so Earth scientists. The Year’s ultimate goal of helping to build safer, healthier and wealthier societies around the globe is expressed in the Year’s subtitle “Earth Science for Society”.

The International Year runs from January 2007 to December 2009, the central year of the triennium (2008) having been proclaimed by the UN General Assembly as the UN Year. The UN sees the Year as a contribution to their sustainable development targets as it promotes wise (sustainable) use of Earth materials and encourages better planning and management to reduce risks for the inhabitants of the world.

The Geophysics Section is very excited about this pilot programme and hopes that it will receive the backing and support of the Department of Education. It is our experience from visiting schools through our outreach programme that by making science as alive as possible in schools and giving it a “wow” factor that we inculcate in the students a desire for further knowledge about science and hopefully germinate the young scientists of tomorrow.

If you wish more information about the project or book a session, please contact:

Thomas Blake

Experimental Officer and E&O Officer, Geophysics Section

School of Cosmic Physics

5 Merrion Square, Dublin 2
Tel:01-6621333
Email: tb@cp.dias.ie