Masthead

October 2014 | Return to issue home

Connecting people with knowledge

Janet Schnall Nearly forgotten research from decades ago questions a widely used method for estimating Pacific Northwest earthquake hazards. Sand and mud collected as part of University of Washington oceanographers' graduate work in the late 1960s is central to a scientific story that spans human and geologic timescales.

The paper, published in the September issue of Geology, may shake the research community's confidence in what the sediment record can relate about past earthquakes. The lead author is Brian Atwater, a UW affiliate professor of earth and space sciences and a geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. (Read the UW Today article.)

What role did the Libraries play in unearthing research from nearly half a century ago?

Stephanie Wright, Libraries Data Services Coordinator, spoke with Atwater, who came to the Libraries in search of original theses because they typically contain more data.

Researchers typically require access to print and online theses and dissertations from libraries at multiple institutions. A challenge, says Wright, is that “researchers don't typically search for data by actually looking for a data set; they look for the article. There isn't yet the "data infrastructure" in place so researchers go looking for data without seeking out the traditional publication with which it is associated first.”

In this case, UW Libraries had the original theses and corresponding data logs which were unavailable elsewhere.

Brian Atwater acknowledged that "the debt to libraries here is huge.” When publishing the new report, the authors digitized and made the core logs available as electronic supplements, a benefit for future researchers.



Photo: Courtesy of Geology

October 2014 | Return to issue home

SUPPORT STUDENTS

Your gift to the Libraries can support student employee scholarships, student research awards, technology, digital initiatives and more.


Upcoming EVENTS

Oct. 15, Nov. 4 & 18: Engineering Lecture Series: This year's series, Engineering the Heart: From Cell Therapy to Computer Technology, explores how engineers are improving cardiac medicine and extending lives.

Nov. 6, 20 & Dec. 4: Graduate School Public Lectures brings leading minds to campus to discuss a variety of issues, ranging from political affairs to arts and culture.

Nov. 5-11: Veterans Appreciation Week: Mark your calendars for special celebrations of the armed forces and uniformed services personnel in the UW community.

More upcoming events


uw ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

This newsletter is produced in partnership with the UW Alumni Association to support UW Libraries and to keep you connected to the UW alumni community.

UWAA members enjoy great discounts, access to career services and lifelong learning opportunities and more. Do you love the UW? Then you've got to be a member! Join now.


CONNECT WITH US

Twitter logoFacebook logo