SCEC Shares Its Experience at PEER Education Program Meeting

On May 1, 1998, Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research (PEER) hosted a meeting on its Education Program. SCEC's Outreach Team reported on its education program and activities, especially changes that have taken place at SCEC in the past few months.

Outreach Director Jill Andrews outlined the current education projects, emphasizing the web-based education modules now under development. Outreach Specialist Mark Benthien spoke about SCEC's internship program for undergraduates, and Outreach Specialist Sara Tekula reported on the IRIS Education and Outreach Planning Meeting (see story in this issue).

The Education Program is directed by Gerry Pardoen (UC Irvine) and coordinated by Carrie Lincourt (UC Irvine). The education subcommittees are chaired by Scott Ashford (K-12), Abe Lynn (Undergraduate Interns), Jon Stewart (Undergraduate Scholars), Ronnie Borja (Graduate Fellowships), Kurt McMullin (Continuing Education), Gerry Pardoen (Minority/Outreach Programs), and Dave McClean (Affiliates Scholarships and Fellowships).

Scott Ashford, with SCEC's former director of education Curt Abdouch as a consultant, addressed how new Education Program could meet the needs of the K-12 community. Scott and Curt discussed internships for high school students, development of hands-on activities for teachers, links to the Future Scientists and Engineers of America (FSEA), and a partnership with the Irvine Unified School District (using UC Irvine as a gateway).

Other topics addressed included PEER's successful Undergraduate Internship Program and a commitment to conduct workshops to educate those in business and industry.

PEER brings together the premier earthquake engineering research universities in the western U.S. to develop technologies and implementation strategies to reduce the life-safety and economic risks of major earthquakes. Center researchers have expertise in diverse areas including earthquake hazards, analysis, design, risk and reliability, and economics and policy planning.

The objectives of PEER's educational program are to raise the awareness of the effects of earthquakes in urban regions and to stimulate interest in earthquake engineering among students, with a special emphasis on underrepresented minorities. PEER programs include a public education program for teachers and students as well as the general public; an undergraduate summer intern program to attract and retain earthquake engineering undergraduates; the Earthquake Engineering Undergraduate Scholars Course; Earthquake Engineering Graduate Fellowship Program to recruit and support excellent Ph.D. students; and continuing professional education courses.

For more information about the PEER Education Program, email

Carrie Lincourt at CLINCOUR@E4E.OAC.UCI.EDU,

or visit the PEER website: HTTP://PEER.BERKELEY.EDU/.