Lucy Jones, a public voice for earthquake science and safety, will talk about ways to better prepare for natural disasters in an upcoming Oregon Humanities Center lecture.

The talk, “The Fault Lies Not in Our Stars: Why Natural Disasters Become Human Catastrophes,” takes place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 9, in Room 156, Straub Hall. It is free and open to the public.

Jones is the founder of the Dr. Lucy Jones Center for Science and Society, whose mission is to foster the understanding and application of science in developing more resilient communities. She also is a research associate in the seismological laboratory at the California Institute of Technology, a post she has held since 1984.

Working with both the public and private sectors, Jones works to increase the ability of communities to adapt and be resilient to dynamic changes in the world around them. The aim is to understand and communicate where the greatest vulnerabilities lie and identify the most cost-effective actions to reduce risk.

Jones recently completed 33 years of federal service with the U.S. Geological Survey. She has been active in earthquake research for decades, furthering earthquake risk reduction through seismological research and integrated disaster scenarios. She developed the first major American earthquake drill, the Great ShakeOut.

For information, or for disability accommodations, contact ohc@uoregon.edu or call 541-346-3934.