Get Ready for the Next One: Former USGS Director Marcia McNutt Gives Lesson in Earthquake Readiness at Mills College Event

OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In celebration of Women’s History Month, Mills College is proud to present the annual Russell Women in Science Lecture Series: Leadership Beyond the Lab.

“Global Lessons in Earthquake Preparedness: Getting Ready for the Next One”

This year’s Women’s History Month theme—“Women Inspiring Innovation through Imagination”—salutes American women’s outstanding contributions to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Consistent with that theme, Marcia McNutt, the former director of the United States Geological Survey (USGS), will present her lecture, “Global Lessons in Earthquake Preparedness: Getting Ready for the Next One,” at Mills College on Thursday, March 14, 2013.

McNutt’s talk, which is open to the public, will examine the current state of earthquake science. Specifically, McNutt will cover earthquake forecasting in California and how to take an earthquake’s punch—and “bounce” back. McNutt will provide a historical perspective of US attempts to prepare for disasters resulting from earthquakes and touch on methods of building public awareness, strengthening building codes, and designing faster technology to warn the public.

A renowned geophysicist, McNutt served as president and CEO of California's Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute for 12 years before going to Washington in 2009 as part of the Obama administration’s “dream team” of prominent scientists. She served as director of the USGS and science advisor to the Secretary of the Interior. McNutt navigated the Survey through natural disasters ranging from hurricanes to oil spills to earthquakes before stepping down from her post earlier this year to return to California.

Funded by Trustee Emerita Cristine Russell ’71, the annual lecture series at Mills introduces students to leading female scientists and highlights the career opportunities available to young women in the sciences. Russell is an award-winning journalist who has written about science, health, and the environment for more than three decades. She earned a biology degree from Mills and is currently president of the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing and a senior fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

“It is important to foster the next generation of women in scientific leadership,” said Russell. “Mills created this lecture series to give students opportunities to interact with and learn from some of the country’s most distinguished women scientists.”

Studies show that American women’s colleges have a strong track record of producing female leaders in the sciences and graduating women in the field at up to twice the rate of coeducational institutions.

“In preparing Mills women to shape the next generation of scientific leaders, our wide range of science programs provides unparalleled faculty mentoring and access to some of today’s great scientific minds,” said Mills College President Alecia DeCoudreaux. “Dr. McNutt’s career demonstrates how women can make significant contributions across the sciences and exemplifies the kind of professional leadership path we encourage Mills women to seek.”

Event Details:
Russell Women in Science Lecture Series: Leadership Beyond the Lab
Marcia McNutt, former director of the USGS
“Global Lessons in Earthquake Preparedness: Getting Ready for the Next One”
Mills College, Jeannik Méquet Littlefield Concert Hall
Thursday, March 14, 2013
5:00 pm—6:30 pm (includes a Q&A session)
Doors open at 4:30 pm for a pre-lecture reception.
Admission is free.

About Mills College
Nestled in the foothills of Oakland, California, Mills College is a nationally renowned, independent liberal arts college offering a dynamic progressive education that fosters leadership, social responsibility, and creativity in approximately 950 undergraduate women and 600 graduate women and men. The College ranks as one of the Best 377 Colleges in the country and one of the greenest colleges in the nation by The Princeton Review. U.S. News & World Report ranked Mills one of the top-tier regional universities in the country and lists it among the top colleges and universities in the West in the “Great Schools, Great Prices" category. For more information, visit www.mills.edu.