David Watkins, an undergraduate Geology
major, was one of two students selected to represent IUP at the Undergraduate
Research at the Capitol – PA Poster Conference, held March 11, 2014, in
Harrisburg.
David presented his research related to
simulations of slow slip earthquake events to learn about mechanisms that might
cause the observed variability found in these events. Working with researchers from Miami University
in Ohio, David found that much of the variability in seismic events was related
to changes in convergence rate, fault propagation speed, and effective normal
stress (related to frictional properties), but that length of the fault zone had
little impact on these events.
URC-PA is an educational event allowing
the undergraduate students enrolled in Pennsylvania’s colleges and universities
to showcase their research talents to the Commonwealth’s key decision-makers.
All fields of research are encouraged. Participants spent the day in the
Pennsylvania Capitol Building, shared experiences and ideas with their
counterparts from other schools, and enlightened state legislators on the
topics that are important to them and our society. Students were also
recognized on the floor of the State Legislative Assembly.
Department of Geoscience