Last month, the Department of the Interior’s publication, People, Land, and Water 
released a special issue dedicated to the Earthquake of 1906 . Like most commemorative publications on the quake, the magazine featured personal accounts, a timeline of events, articles on preparedness and plenty of historical photographs. What set it apart, however, is that the personal accounts featured came from earth scientists who experienced the catastrophe. It’s truly intriguing when the empirical mind confronts its humanity.
The magazine is loaded with articles on science written in accessible, everyday language. And it’s very generous with illustrative maps. But what got me transfixed was a story about a US Geological Survey (USGS) scientist who finally retired after 51 years of being the de facto spokesperson for the USGS. The story of this man’s dedication to his profession tied in very nicely with the article on what it’s like to be an earthquake scientist. An article that talked about the USGS’ Did You Feel It program showed how science research can enlist the general public’s help in data gathering, in effect turning the man on the street into Citizen Scientist.
Again, it’s the connection between science and everyday life that makes this magazine stand out against mundane—and oftentimes, just plain dull—government publications .
cool