HELENA – ExplorationWorks opened its newest exhibit, “When the Earth Shakes,” on Friday.
The exhibit delves into the topics of earthquakes, tsunamis and how engineers are working to protect people from those types of disasters.
There are several displays, including an earthquake simulator, a tectonic plate puzzle and a tsunami tank. The exhibit also features some local history with a display on the big Helena earthquake in 1935 that killed two people.
“160 million people in the United States alone are impacted by earthquakes on some level or live in a zone where they may be impacted, so I think it’s relevant for a lot of people,” said Kelly Posewitz, ExplorationWorks executive director.
The exhibit was sponsored by the National Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation with additional funding from the National Science Foundation.
NEES allowed Sciencenter in Ithaca, New York to develop the display. Kathy Krafft with Sciencenter flew out to Helena to help assemble the exhibit at ExplorationWorks.
“They’re hoping that we will not only share about earthquakes and engineering and the science but also inspire people to understand how it affects them and maybe we’ll inspire some future engineers,” Krafft said.
The “When the Earth Shakes” exhibit opened Friday at 10 a.m and will be on display through September.
-Reported by Jacob Fuhrer/MTN News
