From: Glenn Dolphin <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Friday, February 11, 2022 at 12:49 PM
To: Libarkin, Julie <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Can you advertise these two MSc positions coming available this fall?

Hi Julie.

 

I hope everything is going well. I was just awarded some money to pay for research to help educate Canadians about their forthcoming earthquake early warning system (EEW). I am looking for two good MSc students to help in the effort.

 

I have attached a document with a call for applications, but the text is here as well.

 

Canada is currently developing an earthquake early warning system (EEW) for parts of British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec. A collaborative team of geophysicists and education researchers are investigating specific aspects of communicating with and educating the public about various concepts integral in the EEW alerts. We are looking for two MSc students to join the geoscience department at the University of Calgary, under advising with Dr. Glenn Dolphin with funding from Natural Resources Canada. The planned degree of study will begin in Fall 2022, with an estimated completion date of Spring 2024.  

 

As an MSc student, you will have the opportunity to join an international community of researchers from the University of Calgary, the United States Geological Survey, the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology, and James Madison University. We are looking for two MSc students to be part of this exceptional team to help understand the root causes of misconceptions around EEW. The products of the research will be widely used in Canada and will likely inform EEW systems around the world. 

 

Preferred Qualifications: A Bachelor’s degree in geophysics, seismology, science education, or related field, and/or a combination of experience. 

 

Advisor: Dr. Glenn Dolphin, Tamaratt Teaching Professor in Geoscience, University of Calgary 

 

Research Description: The EEW system in the United States and the system to be implemented in Canada rely on the quick detection of an earthquake, its location, and magnitude to determine where alerts should be sent. Alerts are sent to communities based on their seismic intensity. The terms seismic magnitude and seismic intensity are often conflated with the public and are propagated through books, news media, and social media. Our research will use a three-pronged approach to examine magnitude v. intensity: linguistic, historical, and socio-cultural approaches.  

 

1. The linguistic approach will discern the metaphors used around the concepts of earthquake magnitude and intensity to determine how language may impact understanding and which metaphors might be most effective in community education and communication. 
2. The historical approach will track the historical development of two concepts, magnitude and intensity, with the goal of producing a historical case study that could be used in a range of education settings. 
3. The socio-cultural approach will explore how the Canadian public gets informed about earthquake magnitude and intensity and measure its efficacy. It will also compare education around these concepts in other regions that are very seismically active. 

 

Want to Apply or Have Questions? Please reach out with a letter of interest and CV to Dr. Glenn Dolphin ([log in to unmask]). 

 

The University of Calgary has just been named as one of Canada’s top 5 research universities. Situated east of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, the city of Calgary boasts year-round outdoor adventure and is ranked 5^th of the world’s most livable cities. 

 

 

Best, Glenn