UB Scientists and Earthquake Engineers to Discuss Huge Japanese Quake

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Scientists and engineers at the University at Buffalo and UB's MCEER (Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research) will be available to discuss with media the powerful magnitude 8.9 earthquake that struck the northern coast of Japan and has triggered tsunamis and evacuations throughout half the world.

Members of the media are invited to a briefing at 12:15 p.m. today in Room 133, Ketter Hall in the UB Structural Earthquake Engineering and Simulation Laboratory on the UB North Campus

Regularly scheduled earthquake engineering testing is taking place in the UB lab and media will be provided access.

UB faculty often travel to countries and regions devastated by earthquakes, as part of international efforts to improve seismic design of buildings and infrastructure. Disaster mitigation, response to extreme events and multi-hazard engineering are research strengths of the university identified in the UB 2020 strategic plan.

On site contacts: Ellen Goldbaum, UB Communications, 716-771-9255, Don Goralski, MCEER, 472-3587.

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, a flagship institution in the State University of New York system and its largest and most comprehensive campus. UB's more than 28,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities.