Lecture on Japan's Earthquake and Tsunami

The University of Waterloo is holding a public talk to explore Japan's earthquake and tsunami disaster.

The effects and impact of the recent Japanese earthquake and tsunami disaster will be explored by a panel of experts in a public talk at the University of Waterloo.

On March 11, an earthquake measuring 9.0 Mw on the moment magnitude scale (the newer of two common seismic scales) rocked Japan in T'hoku, the northeastern area of the country. The earthquake triggered tsunami waves up to 10 metres high that struck Japan minutes after the quake, with smaller waves reaching many other countries after several hours.

The lecture, entitled 'The Great 2011 T'hoku Earthquake and Tsunami', will focus on different aspects of the disaster and will be presented by faculty members from across campus:

• Ken Coates, Dean of Arts - Earthquakes and tsunamis in Japanese history and culture

• Alan Morgan, Earth and Environmental Sciences professor - Why is Japan so prone to earthquakes and tsunamis

• Steve Evans, Earth and Environmental sciences professor - Overview of the 2011 disaster

• Carin Holroyd, Political Science professor - Economic and political impact

• Richard Kelly, Geography and Environmental Management professor - Satellite observations of the disaster

• Jatin Nathwani, Civil and Environmental Engineering professor - Nuclear safety issues

"It is wonderful to see that the University of Waterloo is engaging in discussions about the crisis," said Mamiko Nagouchi, a Waterloo international student who is from Japan. "This lecture will help educate the public on details surrounding one of the worst disasters in recent Japanese history."

To register for this event, email scienceevents@uwaterloo.ca or call 519-888-4567 ext. 31083.

The lecture is hosted by the faculties of arts, environment and science and will be held on Monday, March 28 at 7 p.m. at the Optometry Building on North Campus (OPT 347).