MU geologists travel to China to study quakes
The award-winning team will take more than 35 students overseas.
Published Sept. 14, 2007
A team of MU geologists will shake things up next year when they leave the MU campus to study earthquakes in China.
The National Science Foundation awarded the team $2.16 million to study the causes of intraplate earthquakes with a group of Chinese scientists.
"This is a big deal for the university," professor Paco Gomez said. "Out of around 500 initial grand proposals, (the National Science Foundation) selected 14 or 15 to be funded. It's a very, very selective process and we're really excited about it."
The MU team was also the only one chosen that specializes in earth science.
"We kind of got lucky this time," said geophysics professor Mian Liu, who is leading the team of scientists. "Only about 12 geologists were chosen, and our project is the only one from the earth sciences."
The grant, which was awarded Monday, is part of a program called Partnership for International Research and Education. The National Science Foundation sponsors the program as a way to encourage research and international studies among scientists.
Liu said the foundation stresses the importance of forming international relationships, because it is a necessary skill for developing scientists.
"We want to provide our U.S. students the international experience so they can look at things at a different perspective," Liu said. "The long-term goal is to train our students to have international partners and internationally engaged research. One has to be able to collaborate with the best in the world to maintain a competitive edge."
Liu said this is a beneficial experience for students, because it will also broaden their scientific and cultural horizons.
"They will get experience from many different angles," he said. "They will get knowledge of Chinese culture and geology, and they have the opportunity to foster a relationship with Chinese scientists."
MU geologists were paired with scientists in China for the study, because intraplate earthquakes occur in northern China as well as the New Madrid area of Missouri.
The majority of earthquakes occur along tectonic plate boundaries, but rare intraplate earthquakes occur on the interior of the plates, Liu said.
"We have very little knowledge of why these earthquakes happen and what causes these earthquakes," Liu said. "This is a very challenging issue, and China happens to be one of the best places to study intraplate earthquakes."
The MU team was also paired with Chinese scientists because they have worked with them over the past few years in a pilot study of earthquakes in northern China, according to a news release.
"There's a history here," Gomez said. "It wasn't just a random pairing. It's just an extension of long-extended relationships. We're just starting collaborations under the same umbrella with institutions in China."
The MU team is looking for students to participate in the study, and it expects to take 15 graduate students, 20 undergraduate students studying geology and several students from the school of education, who will focus on training.
"We just got the official word ourselves on Monday, so we're actively looking for students," Gomez said. "Our doors are open."