Sacramento, CA – Today on the Assembly Floor of the State’s Capital, Assemblymember Chris Holden (AD – 41) recognized Dr. Lucy Jones – one of the world’s most influential seismologists – who recently announced her retirement. Jones has been a leading seismologist with the United States Geological Survey and a Visiting Research Associate at the Seismological Laboratory of California Institute of Technology for more than three decades. Dr. Jones was presented with an Assembly Resolution coauthored by Assemblymember Chris Holden, Assemblymember Jay Obernolte (AD – 33), Assemblymember Bill Quirk (AD – 20) and Senator Carol Liu (SD – 25).
“Dr. Jones’ pioneering research has improved earthquake safety across our state and will ensure countless lives are saved whenever ‘The Big One’ inevitably strikes,” said Assemblymember Holden. “As Californians living in a seismically active region, we will forever be grateful for her contributions.”
Many in California know Jones as the reassuring voice that appears on your TV after an earthquake. Her frequent television appearances in the wake of the 1994 Northridge Earthquake brought Dr. Jones’ expertise out of the lab and into the home of millions of Californians. She has received numerous awards, including, the Alquist Award from the California Earthquake Safety Foundation, Woman of the Year from the California Science Center, and the Shoemaker Award for Lifetime Achievements in Science Communication from the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
“Lucy and I have worked for the last 15 years working to make the ‘Big Ones’ real enough to tame before they happen,” said Dale Alan Cox, Science Application for Risk Reduction (SAFRR) Project Manager for the USGS. “Her extraordinary skills at communicating hard science was always informative and engaging – especially in times of crisis. This extraordinary ability made us safer and made her a folk hero.”
“Lucy led the way on important policy developments in recent time and many other ways throughout her USGS career, and I'm sure she will continue to be an important partner in the years ahead,” said Dr. Ken Hudnut who will continue Dr. Jones’ work as Science Advisor for Risk Reduction and leader of the SAFRR project for USGS within the Natural Hazards Mission Area. He has worked with Dr. Jones for 25 years on developing the Shake Out magnitude 7.8 San Andreas Fault earthquake scenario and during the response to the 1994 Northridge Earthquake.