Asia@Home Citizen Science Hackfest

Today's Citizen Science Hackfest focused on the volunteer sensing for earthquake science which invites the public to participate in seismic data collection using MEMS sensors internal to laptops or connected to desktop computers via USB connection.

The day started with talks that gave an overview of the current earthquake monitoring networks in Taiwan and Indonesia given by Dr. Wen-Tzong Liang from IES, Academia Sinica and Dr. Benny Hendrawanto, Climatological and Geophysical Agency. These talks showed the current capabilities of the network, addressed the need for improved seismic monitoring, as well as the benefits gained from collaboration between institutions both for earthquake and tsunami detection and understanding earthquake rupture and sub-surface structure.

Next, I gave a presentation on the Quake-Catcher Network, a volunteer-sensing seismic network. The network currently has participants distributed around the world, but with the highest number of volunteers in the USA and Europe. So, part of the hackfest addressed how to best collaborate with institutions in Asia to engage participants in this part of the world. Some discussion included great ideas on involving schools in QCN to address the dual needs of expanding the network and providing a useful teaching tool to bring seismology into classrooms.