HR: 0800h
AN: ED21B-0071    [Abstracts]
TI: Earthquake Education in Prime Time
AU: * de Groot, R
EM: rdegroot@oxy.edu
AF: Southern California Earthquake Center, University of Southern California 3651 Trousdale Parkway, Suite 169, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0742 United States
AU: Abbott, P
EM: pabbott@geology.sdsu.edu
AF: San Diego State University, Dept. of Geological Sciences MC-1020 5500 Campanile Dr., San Diego, CA 92182-1020 United States
AU: Benthien, M
EM: benthien@usc.edu
AF: Southern California Earthquake Center, University of Southern California 3651 Trousdale Parkway, Suite 169, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0742 United States
AB: Since 2001, the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) has collaborated on several video production projects that feature important topics related to earthquake science, engineering, and preparedness. These projects have also fostered many fruitful and sustained partnerships with a variety of organizations that have a stake in hazard education and preparedness. The {\it Seismic Sleuths} educational video first appeared in the spring season 2001 on Discovery Channel's {\it Assignment Discovery}. {\it Seismic Sleuths} is based on a highly successful curriculum package developed jointly by the American Geophysical Union and The Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency. The California Earthquake Authority (CEA) and the Institute for Business and Home Safety supported the video project. Summer Productions, a company with a reputation for quality science programming, produced the {\it Seismic Sleuths} program in close partnership with scientists, engineers, and preparedness experts. The program has aired on the National Geographic Channel as recently as Fall 2004. Currently, SCEC is collaborating with Pat Abbott, a geology professor at San Diego State University (SDSU) on the video project {\it Written In Stone: Earthquake Country - Los Angeles}. Partners on this project include the California Seismic Safety Commission, SDSU, SCEC, CEA, and the Insurance Information Network of California. This video incorporates live-action demonstrations, vivid animations, and a compelling host (Abbott) to tell the story about earthquakes in the Los Angeles region. The {\it Written in Stone} team has also developed a comprehensive educator package that includes the video, maps, lesson plans, and other supporting materials. We will present the process that facilitates the creation of visually effective, factually accurate, and entertaining video programs. We acknowledge the need to have a broad understanding of the literature related to communication, media studies, science education, and hazard response to create a program that is both educational and provides a public service. {\it Seismic Sleuths} and {\it Written in Stone} are the harbingers of a new genre of earthquake programs that are the antithesis of the 1974 film {\it Earthquake} and the 2004 miniseries {\it 10.5}. Film producers and those in the earthquake education community are demonstrating that it is possible to tell an exciting story, inspire awareness, and encourage empowerment without sensationalism.
DE: 0815 Informal education
DE: 0825 Teaching methods
DE: 0840 Evaluation and assessment
DE: 0845 Instructional tools
DE: 0850 Geoscience education research
SC: Education and Human Resourcese [ED]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting