TECHNOLOGY:SECOND-LEVEL STUDENTS in Baltinglass, Co Wicklow, were among the first in the world to receive news of China's recent devastating earthquake. They had access to their own seismometer which allowed them to detect shock waves from the distant quake as they were occurring.
The seismometer was there to record the event as part of the Seismology in Schools initiative currently being rolled out by the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (Dias).
"The purpose of Seismology in Schools is to introduce primary and secondary school students to the idea that science can be dynamic in everyday life. Earthquakes happen every day and we're hoping the schools can record them," explains Tom Blake, experimental officer in the geophysics section of the school of cosmic physics at Dias.
No one could have imagined that such a powerful and destructive event would occur at the start-up of the programme, but it demonstrated that earthquakes are not isolated occurrences.
A prototype seismometer for schools was initially shown last January at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition at the RDS. Transition year teachers and students were particularly interested, as the seismometer could be an ideal project tool, Blake says. "The kids at the Young Scientist Exhibition were absolutely thrilled."
By April 2009 there will be 38 primary and second-level schools around the country involved in the Seismology in the School (or Seismeolaíocht sa Scoil) initiative. Each school will actively record earthquakes from around the world using their own seismometers.
"Around 14 education centres have bought the equipment. Each of these centres has bought two seismometers. They can then choose the schools that will respond best to the initiative," says Blake.
"Scoil Chonglais in Baltinglass have really put themselves into history having recorded the earthquake from China. It's great because we're just bedding down the project at the moment."
The teachers involved are given training workshops, which are funded by Discover Science and Engineering, to show them how to use the equipment. "I'm working as a seismologist for 25 years and we want the teachers to be as familiar with seismology as we are, so we pack a lot in. The teachers are very receptive though and it is an ongoing training process."
Included in the training is how to tune the seismometer to receive different signals. "The instrument is tuned to make sure that it's in a mode that can record earthquakes from all over the world," explains Blake.
The seismometer is 72cm long and 48cm high, can be easily assembled and can be kept on a desk in the classroom. "It serves as both a physics teaching tool and a seismometer.
"There are seven or eight different activities that can be done with the instrument. It can even be used to detect the onset of bad weather. The sea becomes very rough which transfers energy to the land and this can be measured," he says.
This initiative will provide students with hands-on experience in seismology and geophysics and could possibly result in some deciding to take up science for the Leaving Cert and third level.
Further information available from Tom Blake at tb@cp.dias.ie