Geosciences highlights April 5th New Jersey earthquake and the effects of ocean acidification

Aug. 27, 2024
Grad explains earthquakes to a student at the conference booth

Graduate student Will Eaton explains the cause and effects of earthquakes.

 

On Saturday April 20, 2024, Geosciences Princeton University participated in the 2nd Annual Spring into Science event, hosted by the Science Outreach Program. Hundreds of local elementary and middle school students, and their families, attended the event. GEO graduate students, faculty, and staff performed demonstrations for the eager participants. 

One of the demonstrations showed how increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations result in the acidification of the surface ocean and affect the growth of stony corals. Another focused on the cause of earthquakes and how that related to the 4.8 magnitude earthquake that shook New Jersey just two weeks earlier. Using an “earthquake machine” constructed by Prof. Allan Rubin, students were able to create their own “earthquake”. 

The Department thanks graduate students Moriah Kunes, Catherine Hexter, Jenna Lee, Will Eaton and Lucas Sawade, along with Prof. Allan Rubin, Prof. Frederik Simons, and Academic Laboratory Managers Laurel Goodell and Danielle Schmitt for all their work to make this event such a success.

Grad with student attendee

Graduate student Moriah Kunes and Spring into Science attendee investigate coral skeletons.