UC San Diego at Epicenter of Earthquake Research

A firefighter looks on as researchers conduct fire tests on a building that has just undergone a simulated earthquake on UC San Diego's shake table. Photo by Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego Publications Great California ShakeOut Earthquake Drill to be Held Today UC San Diego faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to participate in the Great California ShakeOut Earthquake Drill that begins today at 10:17 a.m. The goal of the ShakeOut is to prepare all Californians to "Drop, Cover and Hold On" in the event of an earthquake. With more than 8.6 million registered participants, the Great California ShakeOut is the biggest earthquake drill in the nation. From the world's largest outdoor earthquake simulator to an international network of seismic stations, UC San Diego is a living laboratory for seismic safety. Researchers across campus are trying to improve the understanding and detection of earthquakes; provide immediate information about damages sustained after an event; and improve the safety of structures to better withstand major earthquakes. As an estimated 9.5 million people across the state are set to participate in the Great California ShakeOut earthquake drill today, scientists at the Jacobs School of Engineering and Scripps Institution of Oceanography are doing their part to keep us safe and provide a better understanding of these natural hazards. "The Great ShakeOut is a good reminder that we live in an earthquake-prone region," said Debi Kilb, a seismologist at Scripps who studies aftershocks and is collaborating with U.S. Geological Survey on developing an earthquake early warning system.