EarthScope is a National Science Foundation-sponsored program to explore the structure and evolution of the North American continent and understand the physical processes that cause earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The 2008 EarthScope Speaker Series presents scientific results of EarthScope research to faculty and students in departmental seminars at colleges and universities. Speakers were selected based on their outstanding research accomplishments involving EarthScope as well as their abilities to engage a variety of audiences.

Travel and lodging expenses for EarthScope Speakers is provided by funds from the National Science Foundation. Each host institution will provide local support to “meet and greet” the speaker, advertise and facilitate the lecture (including any room-rental expenses), and introduce the speaker to faculty, students, and campus activities related to EarthScope. Each host institution (in consultation and agreement with the speaker) is encouraged to arrange a complementary, general-audience lecture.

To request an EarthScope speaker, please complete the online application form. Host institutions will be selected based on geographical distribution, type of institution, and speaker availability. The EarthScope National Office (ESNO) will review applications and match them with speakers. There will be discretion to ensure that the EarthScope Speaker Series reaches diverse audiences, establishes links to organizations and communities that engage under-served populations, and encourages collaboration with institutions that otherwise might not be involved with EarthScope. Host institutions are encouraged to cost-share if they can (for example, institutions with their own speaker series budgets might volunteer to bear part of the speaker travel and lodging costs to help expand the number of possible presentations).