Geophysics Research Group Outreach
Outreach activities in Nebraska schools
On May 6, 2024, the UNL Geophysics team had a field trip to Oakland, NE. High school students from Oakland-Craig High School helped us collect a seismic survey and several gravity readings. This project will continue throughout the Summer of 2024 and the academic year of 2024-2025 and we will stay engaged with amazing students from Oakland-Craig High!
If you want us to have an outreach event in your classroom, please contact Dr. Irina Filina.
Geophysics Research Group
Summer camps "Discover Physics of Earth"
Since 2023, Dr. Filina and her students have offered summer camps for high school students. Students explore basic concepts of plate tectonics, interpret geological and geophysical maps, investigate different rocks, and get hands-on experience with various geophysical instruments. The ultimate camp’s goals are to trigger curiosity in geoscience and to provoke critical thinking about Earth systems and their relationship with geological hazards.
Fragment of the Final Presentation video from the 2024 Physics of Earth summer camp
Football Induced Seismicity
Football Induced Seismicity is an outreach project conducted by geology students enrolled in the GEOL441 Geophysics. We set up our TC-1 seismometer on the field level of Memorial Stadium during the Huskers home games and recorded game-related seismicity. The students are involved in all stages of the project from setting up the instrument and recording the signals to interpreting the records and presenting the results.
Dinosaurs and Disasters
Dinosaurs and Disasters is an annual outreach event that the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences conducts jointly with the University of Nebraska State Museum. The UNL Geophysics team has participated in these events since 2017. We set up a "Seismic Station" where we demonstrated our TC-1 seismometer. We allow young visitors to jump near the instrument and observe their own quakes on the monitor. We also offer a series of seismic-related activities, such as crossword puzzles, coloring, triangulation exercises, etc.
We also explain the basics of earthquake seismology and describe the historic earthquakes in Nebraska, as well as demonstrate our own records from the recent events in Central Nebraska.
Lincoln Public School Science Fair
UNL Geophysics team has also participated in the annual Lincoln Public School Science Fair events since 2017.
We teach the basics of seismology to elementary school kids, such as what are the differences between different types of seismic waves and how to locate the earthquake.
We also explain the principle of our TC-1 seismometer and allow kids to jump near the instrument to observe generated seismic waves on the monitor.
