Interested researchers can apply online at GRANTS.GOV under funding opportunity number G17AS00030. Applications are due May 22, 2017.

"The grants offered through the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program are a long-standing effort that significantly contributes to the advancement of earthquake research," said Bill Leith, who is the USGS Senior Science Advisor for Earthquake and Geologic Hazards. "We encourage the continued submission of new ideas that provide more accurate and timely earthquake information, better characterize earthquake sources, and reduce uncertainty in earthquake hazard and risk assessments.  We also seek proposals that will help to mitigate earthquake losses and better inform the public about earthquakes and earthquake safety, or other scientific efforts that will lead to reduced risk."

Every year the USGS invites innovative earthquake research proposals from colleges and universities, state and local offices, non-profit organizations, private institutions, unaffiliated scientists, engineers, and foreign organizations. Past funded grants projects include:

• detailed mapping of the Wasatch Fault Zone in Utah and Idaho using LiDAR data to reduce earthquake risk;
• the investigation of active faults in the Central Virginia Seismic Zone;
• assessing crustal deformation in the San Francisco Bay area;
• analysis of the San Bernardino, CA, basin to determine seismic velocity and earth structure;
• studies of slow-slip phenomena as related to earthquake hazards in Cascadia; and
• assessments of near real-time data from earthquake triggered landslides.

The U.S. Geological Survey is authorized to award up to $7 million in grants for earthquake hazards research in 2018.  A complete list of funded projects and reports can be found on the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program external research support website.