October 13, 2001:
Field Trip to USGS Western Region Headquartes

WHAT: Find out how scientists pinpoint earthquakes, map the earth's deep structures and much more as we tour the U.S. Geological Survey's Western Region headquarters on the Peninsula.

Our NCSWA tour will start with a visit to the Earthquake Information Center, where scientists will talk about the earthquake detection network and new technologies they are using to learn more about the science of how earthquakes happen. We will then visit the paleomagnetics lab, where geologists use the ancient magnetic signals left behind in rocks and soil to date geologic events and examine how the earth is changing. The lab is a national historic site for its role in confirming plate tectonics and continental drift 40 years ago. A trip to the USGS's water quality laboratory is also a possibility. Our final stop will be the Earth Science Information Center, where the thousands of USGS maps, reports and historic photographs are available.This is a potentially great resource for those of you covering the earth sciences. After the event, you can stick around and eat a brown-bag lunch at picnic tables among the rock and mineral collection, which includes a Mount St. Helens lava "bomb" and a chunk of Antarctica.

WHEN: Oct. 13, 2001 at 10 a.m.

WHO: Open to NCSWA members and their guests.

WHERE: Meet in the lobby of USGS's Building 3, 345 Middlefield Road, in Menlo Park. Both driving and public transportation directions can be found online. Building 3 is the second one on your right as you enter the USGS complex, and it has a "map sales" sign on the front. There are several parking lots nearby. Our tour will begin at 10 a.m. sharp, so please be prompt.

HOW MUCH: Free!

HOW TO SIGN UP: E-mail Andrea Widener by Oct. 10. Indicate the number of people in your group, and please put USGS TRIP in the subject line.