Are you prepared for the next big earthquake? We always hear “the big one’s coming” but what does that really mean? We asked Earthquake Geologist and Science Communicator Bryan Castillo to inform us about earthquake science so we can be prepared and stay calm, cool, and collected in the face of potential disaster.
The Bay Area is a seismically active zone. It includes the San Andreas Fault and 6 other significant fault zones: the Calaveras, Concord-Green Valley, Greenville, Hayward, Rodgers Creek, and San Gregorio Faults. The last major earthquake that struck the San Francisco Bay Area was the Loma Prieta earthquake on October 17, 1989. It was the strongest earthquake to hit the area since the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. Scientists forecast that based on the probability and timing of earthquakes that the “next big one is coming.” But what does that actually mean other than causing anxiety and fear? We reached out to a geologist to help clear up any confusion and prepare us with the knowledge we need to stay grounded during earthquake emergencies.
Join us with Earthquake Geologist and Science Communicator Bryan Castillo for an online event that will dive into the science of earthquakes in the Bay Area and how to prepare for them. This online event will be interactive and provide the audience with many opportunities to ask Bryan questions of all magnitudes. We can’t wait to get to the core of earthquake science and look forward to hosting you for this groundbreaking event.
About the Speaker
Bryan Castillo is a first-generation college graduate and the first scientist in his family. He felt his first earthquake in high school (2008 M5.4 Chino Hills). This inspired him to pursue his career in Geosciences. He earned his BSc. (2016) in Geophysics from California State University, Northridge and his MSc. (2019) in Geology from California State University, San Bernardino. Bryan specializes in earthquake geology/paleoseismology. He co-authored a research paper focused on the July 2019 Ridgecrest earthquake sequence. Bryan recently published the first ever detailed paleoseismic study on the Banning strand of the San Andreas fault. Bryan is an Adjunct Geology professor at California State University, San Bernardino where he emphasizes in his teaching the importance of better understanding earthquakes and seismic hazards in California.
Bryan’s passion for earthquake geology extends far beyond the university’s classrooms and geology labs. He brings his education, field experience, and scientific training to bear daily across his multiple social media channels—including his wildly successful TikTok account, which boasts more than 100,000 followers. On these platforms, Castillo strives to educate his followers on seismology, debunks myths about temblors, and emphasizes the importance of preparing for big quakes. You can follow Bryan on Instagram and TikTok at @earthquake_dude.
This event is part of POST’s community event series, which is open to the general public as well as POST donors. We hope you’ll join us! We also curate a separate series of private events for our donors. Learn how you can support POST here: openspacetrust.org/support-post
