Lucy Jones facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lucy Jones
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Lucile M. Jones
1955 (age 69–70) Santa Monica, California
|
| Nationality | American |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Seismology, Science communication |
| Institutions | US Geological Survey, Seismological Laboratory of Caltech |
Lucile M. Jones (born 1955) is a famous American seismologist. A seismologist is a scientist who studies earthquakes. Dr. Jones is well-known for explaining earthquake science and safety to the public. Many people in Southern California trust her advice. They even call her "the Beyoncé of earthquakes." This is because she is often asked to share information after an earthquake happens.
Currently, Dr. Jones works as a research associate at the Seismological Laboratory at Caltech. She also started her own organization, the Dr. Lucy Jones Center for Science and Society. Before this, she worked for the US Geological Survey (USGS) from 1985 to 2016. At USGS, she studied foreshocks and how to make communities stronger after natural disasters. She also helped create the Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills. Millions of people worldwide take part in these safety drills every year.
Contents
Understanding Earthquakes: Dr. Jones's Career
Dr. Lucy Jones has written over 100 scientific papers. Her main interests are how earthquakes work and how to prepare for them. She also studies the seismotectonics of Southern California. This means looking at the Earth's structures that cause earthquakes.
Early Studies and Education
Dr. Jones earned her first degree in Chinese language from Brown University in 1976. She then got her Ph.D. in geophysics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1981. Geophysics is a science that studies the Earth using physics.
In 1979, she visited China to study the 1975 Haicheng earthquake. Chinese scientists believed they had predicted this earthquake. Dr. Jones was one of the first American scientists to visit China after the two countries became friends again.
Working for Public Safety
Dr. Jones worked as a science advisor for the USGS. She helped reduce risks from natural hazards. She was also a Commissioner for the California Seismic Safety Commission. This group advises the governor and lawmakers on earthquake safety. She was appointed by Governor Gray Davis and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
In 2014, she worked with the City of Los Angeles. She advised Mayor Eric Garcetti on how to deal with earthquake risks.
After leaving the USGS in 2016, Dr. Jones started her own center. She also wrote a book called The Big Ones: How Natural Disasters Have Shaped Us (and What We Can Do About Them). In her book, she talks about major natural disasters like volcanoes and floods. She explains how people have reacted to them. This helps us learn how to survive future crises.
Sharing Science with Everyone
Since 1986, Dr. Jones has often spoken to the media after earthquakes in California. She helps people understand what happened and what to do. Many people see her as a calm and trusted voice during emergencies.
A Calming Voice in a Crisis
People often say Dr. Jones brings a sense of calm. This partly comes from an event after the 1992 Joshua Tree earthquake. She answered questions from reporters while holding her sleeping child. This made her seem very relatable.
In 2014, Dr. Jones worked closely with Los Angeles City Hall. Her work helped pass a plan in 2015 to make buildings safer. This plan helped strengthen over 15,000 buildings. These buildings were often older and less resistant to earthquakes.
Helping with Other Crises
Because she is so trusted, Dr. Jones is often asked about other crises. This includes the COVID-19 pandemic. She believes that during a crisis, people need "one clear message." This helps avoid confusion. For COVID-19, she said the message was "Don't share your air." This meant wearing a mask and keeping distance from others.
Music for Climate Action
In 2022, Dr. Jones started "Tempo: Music for Climate Action." This project brings together scientists and musicians. They work together to explore issues related to climate change.
Awards and Recognition
Dr. Jones has received many awards for her important work.
- She received the Alquist Award for earthquake safety.
- The USGS gave her the Shoemaker Award for her work in science communication.
- She received the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal in 2015.
- In 2018, she won the Seismological Society of America's Frank Press Public Service Award.
- In 2024, USA Today named her one of their Women of the Year.
Dr. Jones's Personal Life
Dr. Jones's uncle was a diplomat in Taiwan. She lived with his family there for a time. In 1971, she graduated from the Taipei American School. Her Chinese name is 章光月.
Dr. Jones is a fourth-generation resident of Southern California. She lives in Pasadena, California. She is married to another seismologist, Egill Hauksson. They have two sons.
Dr. Jones is also a talented musician and composer. She plays a Renaissance stringed instrument called the viol. She is part of Los Angeles Baroque, a community orchestra. In 2019, she released a music video for her piece called In Nomine Terra Calens. This means "In the Name of a Warming Earth." The music shows how global temperatures have risen from 1880 to 2017. She calls this increase "terrifying." Los Angeles Baroque performed this piece at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.
