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The Center for Earthquake Research and Information (CERI) at The University of Memphis is an internationally-- known research institute whose mission is to further the understanding of earthquakes and their effects, particularly those in Mid-America, and to reduce the risks they pose to society through research, public information, and education. Following a magnitude 5.0 earthquake that shook the entire Mid-South in March 1976, the Tennessee State Legislature in 1977 established CERI as an agency of the state with a mandate to perform earthquake research and serve as a focal point for the distribution of earthquake information tailored to the needs of various technical and non-technical user groups. In 1984, the Tennessee General Assembly and then-governor Lamar Alexander identified the most advanced research facilities in the state's university system for designation as State Centers of Excellence. CERI was one of the first COEs to be established. The Center has since grown to become a world leader in the study of earthquakes and the operational facility for the largest network of seismic instruments in the eastern U.S. For fiscal year 2001-02, the Center received nearly $1.4 million in external funds, making it one of the leading research centers associated with Tennessee Board of Regents institutions.
Academics at CERI
CERI supports the mission of The University of Memphis by providing excellent education at the graduate level and by conducting important research that benefits the urban community directly through investigations of seismic hazard. The Center maintains a graduate program in Earth Sciences offering Master's and Ph.D. Degrees and is an integral part of the new Department of Earth Sciences, which combines the faculties of the Department of Geography and Geological Sciences to develop strong undergraduate and graduate programs with an emphasis on hazards. Our students receive training in the fields of geophysics and active tectonics that includes participation in cutting-edge research. Outstanding students may qualify for the Palisades Geophysical Institute and Herff Fellowships offered at CERI.
Recent Professional Recognition
CERI faculty members receive numerous awards and distinctions every year. Here are a few for 2001-2002:
* Dr. Arch Johnston, CERI Director, was recognized for his participation on the National Research Council's Committee on the Science of Earthquakes (2001).
* Dr. Chris Powell, CERI Associate Director, was named Hazards Evaluation...