Taylor Rawlinson, doctoral candidate in the Department of Civil Engineering, was selected as one of three students nationwide to spend a month in Japan researching the massive 9.0-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami that rocked the country last March. Rawlinson, who is concentrating his research in structures engineering, began work in November with a professor at the University of Tokyo, writing detailed reports in English on the earthquake and tsunami.

“I hope this can lead to more exposure for the earthquake research being conducted at Auburn,” says Rawlinson. “The New Madrid Fault lies between the Missouri, Tennessee and Arkansas borders, and very few people realize there is a risk for earthquakes east of the Rockies. As earthquake researchers, it is our responsibility to increase awareness in the east.”

Rawlinson is advised by Auburn civil engineering faculty member Justin Marshall, whose research includes earthquake engineering. Marshall traveled to Haiti and New Zealand to study damaged and collapsed structures after 7.0 and 6.3-magnitude quakes devastated those countries.