Search

COVID-19 Rapid Student Interview Project

COVID-19 Rapid Student Interview Collection Form

This project aims to provide an engaging project for post-secondary students (undergraduate and graduate) to gain experience with qualitative research methodology  while contributing to public

Seismic St. Louis

Emily Sekine
Annotation of
In response to

I'm interested in better understanding the ongoing geological processes that shape St. Louis and the Mississippi Valley region. So far, I've been looking into the history of seismicity in the region, focusing on the fascinating but little known history of the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811 and 1812 -- the most devastating earthquakes to have hit the US east of the Rockies. I've also been exploring how St. Louis and surrounding areas are dealing with the possibility of another earthquake occurring in the future. According to one article I read, one of the biggest uncertainties is what would happen to the heavily engineered Mississippi River in the case of another major tremblor. The shaking could break the levees, flooding wide areas along the river and creating cascading effects. The flow of the river might also reverse completely, as occurred during the New Madrid earthquakes.

On these possibilities and the lack of scientific consensus surrounding intraplate seismicity in this zone, see this article in The Atlantic.

On current efforts to create earthquake hazard maps in St. Louis, see this overview on the US Geological Survey site.

For a deeper dive into the history of the New Madrid earthquakes, see this book by historian of science Conevery Bolton Valencius. 

pece_annotation_1474211944

jaostrander
Annotation of
In response to

The authors used reports and statistics from international health organizations such as WHO. They also gathered information from think tanks like RAND. Additionally, to support the claims made in this article the authors looked at how biological outbreaks and threats were dealt with in the past, specifically World War II and the wars with Iran. 

pece_annotation_1474215599

jaostrander
Annotation of
In response to

This organization operates within low socioeconomical regions. These are regions that are typically war zones or are high in violence. This has shaped their way of conceiving disaster in that they believe everyone should be provided care. 

pece_annotation_1476208839

jaostrander
Annotation of
In response to

The article discusses the cares and the decisions made in regards to patient care at a hospital during hurricane Katrina. A team of doctors decided to euthanize several patients who were suffering and likely would not receive care or live much longer anyway. While, the team of medical professionals made this choice morally and to relieve the patients of their suffering they are still subject to malpractice claims and breaking protocol. The article suggests a disconnect between those working in the field alongside patients and those making rules and regulations. 

pece_annotation_1481595581

jaostrander
Annotation of
In response to

The authors, Vicanne Adams, Taslim Van Hattum, and Diana English work at the University of California San Francisco in the department of anthropology, history, and social medicine. The department’s research includes aspects of global health, social theory, critical medical anthropology, and disaster recovery.