Who is the Earthquake Lady?

Ever heard the term “Earthquake Lady” tossed around? It’s a catchy nickname, right? But who exactly are we talking about? Well, it’s not just one person. “Earthquake Lady” is a title that seems to stick to several amazing female seismologists who’ve dedicated their lives to understanding earthquakes, helping us understand them too, and getting us all better prepared.

While the name can pop up when talking about various women in the field, two names come up most often: Dr. Lucy Jones and Dr. Kate Hutton. And more recently, Dr. Susan Hough is getting some well-deserved recognition as well.

Let’s start with Dr. Lucy Jones. She’s often the “Earthquake Lady” people think of, and for good reason. She’s a powerhouse in the field. After a solid 33 years as a science advisor for risk reduction at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), she’s now famous for making earthquake science accessible to everyone and pushing for better safety measures. Her research? It’s all about figuring out the odds of earthquakes and those pesky aftershocks, which has been crucial for California’s early warning systems. Oh, and she also created the “Great Shakeout.” You know, that earthquake drill that’s now gone global? Pretty cool, huh?

Then there’s Dr. Kate Hutton. Another “Earthquake Lady” through and through. For 37 years, she was the staff seismologist at Caltech, keeping a close eye on Southern California’s seismic activity. What made her special? She had this incredible knack for explaining complicated stuff in a way that anyone could understand. Seriously, she could break down the science without making your eyes glaze over. Hutton also worked hard to make earthquake catalogs more accurate and developed some fantastic earthquake safety programs. She hung up her hat at Caltech in 2015, leaving behind a real legacy.

And we can’t forget Dr. Susan Hough! She’s a research geophysicist with the USGS down in Pasadena. With a Ph.D. from Scripps, she’s deep into understanding earthquake ground motions, those sneaky induced earthquakes, historical quakes, and figuring out seismic hazards. After that devastating earthquake in Haiti back in 2010, she even led the USGS team that installed seismic stations and accelerometers there. Talk about making a difference! Plus, she’s written a bunch of books on earthquake science for regular folks like us and has been leading projects to help countries like Nepal, Haiti, and Myanmar build up their earthquake preparedness. In 2023, the Seismological Society of America gave her the Frank Press Public Service Award for her awesome communication skills and her work to improve earthquake monitoring and hazard assessment worldwide. It’s clear why she’s also considered an “Earthquake Lady.”