Lisa A Wald
Lisa has worked for the USGS since 1987, first as a Research Geophysicist and then as a Science Communicator and Web Content Manager for the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, the Landslide Hazards Program, the Geomagnetism Program, and the Natural Hazards Mission Area. She is also a member of Natural Hazards Mission Science Communications Team.
Computer/Software Experience
- HTML, CSS, Adobe Creative Suite, Office 365, WordPress.
Relevant Experience in Science Communications and Graphic Design & Layout
- Created and coordinated an Education & Outreach Program for the USGS Earthquake Hazards Team office in Pasadena, CA with no budget; created USGS Public Lecture Series, created and lead Teacher Workshops to teach teachers how to teach classrooms about earthquakes with hands-on materials.
- Created classroom activities for K-6 to teach about various earthquake science.
- Forged a partnership with the KidSpace Museum in Pasadena, CA, and served as a scientific consultant for their new hands-on earthquake exhibit; worked with exhibit designers.
- Created and presented hands-on talks/presentations about earthquakes to K-6 classrooms and community organizations throughout the Los Angeles Metropolitan area.
- Coordinated several-year long project to completely redesign the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program website, which involved several 1000 webpages, and web developers spread in several offices throughout the US.
- Coordinated USGS “booths” at local, regional, and national meetings and answered questions.
- Author and co-author, and graphic design and layout of many USGS Fact Sheets, which are publications that communicate science to the general public; general 5000-10,000 copies printed at a time often with second printings.
- Created posters, flyers, and brochures for Pasadena and Golden USGS office events, internal and public.
- Science writer for USGS "Science for Everyone" articles.
Science Communications Articles for a Non-Technical Audience
- Science for Everyone articles - Earthquake Hazards Program
- Science for Everyone articles - Landslide Hazards Program
- Science for Everyone articles - Geomagnetism Program
Professional Experience
WEB CONTENT MANAGER/SCIENCE WRITER September 2014 to Present
U.S. Geological Survey, Earthquake Hazards Program, Golden, ColoradoWeb Content Manager for Earthquake Hazards Program Website, Landslide Hazards Program Website, Geomagnetism Program Website, and Geologic Hazards Science Center Website, including Information Architecture, User Experience, Graphic Design and Layout. Write
Education and Certifications
M.S., Geophysics University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona July 1987
B.S., Geology Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas December 1984
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Seismological Society of America (SSA)
Association of Science Communicators (ASC)
Honors and Awards
2010 DOI Superior Service Award
2003 Shoemaker Award for Communication Product Excellence, Web Category – Earthquake Hazards Program Website Realtime Products
Science and Products
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
The Electric Storm of November 1882
55-Story Tall Building – Before and After Earthquake Retrofit
Washington DC Stone and Brick Buildings Vulnerable to Distant Quakes
Back to the Future on the San Andreas Fault
Ground-Truthing After the M4.0 Earthquake in Southern Maine, October 16, 2012
M7.8 Nepal Earthquake, 2015 – A Small Push to Mt. Everest
Reconstruction of an Avalanche: The West Salt Creek Rock Avalanche
The "Snow Plow Theory"* of Early-Arriving Tsunamis
Seismology in the City
How Big and How Frequent Are Earthquakes on the Wasatch Fault?
Science and Products
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
The Electric Storm of November 1882
55-Story Tall Building – Before and After Earthquake Retrofit
Washington DC Stone and Brick Buildings Vulnerable to Distant Quakes
Back to the Future on the San Andreas Fault
Ground-Truthing After the M4.0 Earthquake in Southern Maine, October 16, 2012
M7.8 Nepal Earthquake, 2015 – A Small Push to Mt. Everest
Reconstruction of an Avalanche: The West Salt Creek Rock Avalanche
The "Snow Plow Theory"* of Early-Arriving Tsunamis
Seismology in the City
How Big and How Frequent Are Earthquakes on the Wasatch Fault?
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government