New USU Club Introduces Earthquake Engineering to Students
Recent earthquakes across the globe are highlighting a growing need in Utah to address seismic hazards such as aging infrastructure and increased risk to population centers. Engineering students at Utah State University now have the opportunity to be part of the solution.
The USU EERI student chapter consists of Dr. Brady Cox, Dr. Marv Halling, Dr. Mohsen Zaker Esteghamati and seven students.
The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to understanding earthquake risk and increasing earthquake resilience, which is exactly what the students in the Utah State University chapter plan to do.
“An earthquake’s impact is not solely determined by its force, but also by the integrity of the places it shakes,” said Aser Abbas, co-president of the USU EERI student chapter. “We strive to introduce students to cutting-edge earthquake engineering research and design methods, share USU research outcomes with a wider audience and increase the understanding of earthquake hazards in the community.”
Dr. Brady Cox specializes in earthquake engineering, which designs and analyzes infrastructure with earthquakes in mind. Seismic equipment is also used to detect when the ground moves.
Experts have repeatedly stated that Utah is overdue for a large, devastating earthquake and the state needs to do more to prepare for it. Civil engineers will be responsible for strengthening infrastructure and resiliency of buildings.
The 5.7 magnitude Magna earthquake in 2020 was a wakeup call for Utahns. It caused over $600 million in damage and showed just how unprepared the state was for even a small, seismic event. In Utah, an estimated 175,000 buildings are made of unreinforced masonry, which is a major cause of death during earthquakes. California has only 25,000 unreinforced buildings.
Dr. Mohsen Zaker Esteghamati, an assistant professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, is the faculty advisor for the club. Although he has only been with USU since fall 2022, his interest in earthquake risk and mitigation has been around for far longer.
“Utah State University has a vibrant civil engineering program and world-class faculty who are experts in earthquake engineering. The USU EERI student chapter aims to leverage these resources and the community interest to introduce and involve our student population in earthquake engineering research and practice,” he said. “We also plan to create synergies between our students and the practicing engineers working to improve Utah’s seismic resiliency.”
More information about the USU chapter of EERI can be found on the college of engineering website.
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Writer: Sydney Dahle, sydney.dahle@usu.edu, 435-797-7512
Contact: Mohsen Zaker Esteghamati, mohsen.zaker@usu.edu, 435-797-1522