USGS Offers Earthquake Research Grants

The U.S. Geological Survey will award up to $7 million in grants for earthquake hazards research in 2017.

"The USGS has a long-standing grants program that supports innovative earthquake research, and we are currently soliciting project proposals for 2017," said Bill Leith, who is the USGS Senior Science Advisor for Earthquake and Geologic Hazards. "We seek proposals to better characterize earthquake sources, reduce uncertainty in earthquake hazard assessments or improve forecasts and other efforts to reduce risk. In addition, we welcome proposals that provide more accurate and timely earthquake information or aim to better inform the public about earthquakes and earthquake safety."

Interested researchers can apply online at GRANTS.GOV under funding opportunity number G16AS00024. Applications are due May 25, 2016.

Every year the USGS awards earthquake research grants to universities, state geological surveys and private institutions. Past projects included:

• trench investigations to better understand the size and age of large earthquakes between Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah;
• the application of innovative techniques to map seismic hazards near the nation’s capital;
• exploring the use of rapid and precise GPS recordings to improve earthquake early warning;
• analysis of the potential for large earthquakes in the Gorgonio Pass, an area of complex faulting east of San Bernardino, Calif.;
• investigation of recent earthquake activity along major fault lines crossing southeast Alaska; and
• studies to characterize and understand the causes of potentially induced earthquakes in California, Kansas, Wyoming, Texas and Ohio.

A complete list of funded projects and reports can be found on the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program external research support website.