PSN-L Email List Message

Subject: RE: Instrument quality
From: "Gary Lindgren" gel@.................
Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:53:38 -0700


Randy,

I know what you mean about not much interest with the younger set and
seismology. This past summer I attended the Bay Area Maker Faire. I thought
for sure there would be a few exhibits on what people were doing with
seismometers. There several buildings all full of various scientific leaning
exhibits. Thousands of people and not one booth on seismometers. I was quite
disappointed. 

Gary

 

From: psn-l-request@.............. [mailto:psn-l-request@............... On
Behalf Of Randy Pratt
Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 8:44 AM
To: psn-l@..............
Subject: Instrument quality

 

Chris,

 

There are also many battles out here that need fighting in addition to
getting the last nanometer resolution from a homebrew seismometer.  For the
past nine years  I have been involved with a regional science fair and have
not seen a single seismometer project.  The closest I have seen was using a
vibration device to measure the ride of an automobile.  I had one highschool
teacher who let me operate my Lehman from her classroom for a couple weeks
each year but now she is gone and there is zero interest in seismology in
the area.  From where I sit there will not be any new seismologists to use
those last bits of resolution.  Anyone providing a spark of imagination and
an avenue of entry for interested young minds is making a great contribution
to seismology or more broadly science.  Earth science is falling out of
classroom time in favor or green and alternative energy.  What will give a
student more pride and motivation,  connecting a professional device with no
understanding of it or constructing a caveman device and recording a distant
quake?  We are up against Facebook and IPhones for kids time and energy.

 

Randy












Randy,

I know what you mean about not much interest with the = younger set and seismology. This past summer I attended the Bay Area Maker = Faire. I thought for sure there would be a few exhibits on what people were doing = with seismometers. There several buildings all full of various scientific = leaning exhibits. Thousands of people and not one booth on seismometers. I was = quite disappointed.

Gary

 

From:= psn-l-request@.............. [mailto:psn-l-request@............... On = Behalf Of Randy Pratt
Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 8:44 AM
To: psn-l@..............
Subject: Instrument quality

 

Chris,=

 

There are also many battles out here that need fighting in addition to getting the last nanometer resolution from a homebrew seismometer.  For the past nine years  I have been = involved with a regional science fair and have not seen a single seismometer = project.  The closest I have seen was using a vibration device to measure the ride = of an automobile.  I had one highschool teacher who let me operate my = Lehman from her classroom for a couple weeks each year but now she is gone = and there is zero interest in seismology in the area.  From where I sit = there will not be any new seismologists to use those last bits of = resolution.  Anyone providing a spark of imagination and an avenue of entry for = interested young minds is making a great contribution to seismology or more broadly science.  Earth science is falling out of classroom time in favor = or green and alternative energy.  What will give a student more pride and = motivation,  connecting a professional device with no understanding of it or constructing a caveman device and recording a distant quake?  We = are up against Facebook and IPhones for kids time and = energy.

 

Randy<= o:p>


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