Are you ready to be shaken?

Are you ready to be shaken?

Wondering whether Dunedin could be in line for one of the “big” earthquakes? Wondering what to do if it did happen? Wondering how your community/suburb would be affected?

A Café Scientific (Café Sci) seminar in Dunedin on 23 November will answer these questions and more.

The New Zealand International Science Festival has organised Café Sci as a precursor to next July’s 6th NZ International Science Festival.

The seminar is titled: Ready to be Shaken – will this happen to us and features key speakers Dr Andrew Gorman from the University of Otago’s Geology Department and Neil Brown, Manager, Civil Defence & Rural Fires, Dunedin City Council.

When most people think of a natural disaster affecting Dunedin they would probably imagine the impact of a big earthquake emanating from the NZ Alpine Fault, or a Tsunami resulting from a big earthquake in the Pacific. Dr Andrew Gorman will reveal that the dangers are much closer to home and outline the potential dangers from a series of fault lines in the eastern part of Otago.

Dr Gorman teaches a hazards course in the Geology Department at Otago University. He will explain the different types of earthquakes that occur and how they can affect us.

Neil Brown has worked for Dunedin City Civil Defence since 1980. In 1999 he went to Turkey with the NZ Society of Earthquake Engineering investigation team following the Marmara earthquake and has seen first hand the destructive capability of such events.

He will discuss the impacts of a serious earthquake on our local community (particularly lifeline utilities) and what people need to do to prepare for such events.

Neil Brown will also outline the differences between the uniquely Dunedin approach to an emergency such as an earthquake and current national advertising programme on how to prepare for an emergency.

The sixth New Zealand International Science Festival will run from 5-13 July 2008 in Dunedin.
Café Sci, Friday 23 November

Title: “Ready to be shaken – will this happen to us”

• Recent earthquakes – will these continue?


• Latest findings


• Are we safe?


• Are we prepared?

Guest speakers: Dr Andrew Gorman (University of Otago) & Neil Brown (Civil Defence)
Time: 6.00pm – 8pm
Location: Cargill Room, Southern Cross Hotel
Cost: Free admission

ENDS

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