Earth Science Week observed in Dominica

The Office of Disaster Management (ODM) in Dominica has partnered with the Seismic Research Centre of the University of the West Indies (UWI) St. Augustine, in Trinidad, to observe Earth Science Week 2013.

A team from the Seismic Research Center headed by Vulcanologist Dr. Patricia Joseph is visiting Dominica this week create to a greater awareness among the population about volcanoes.

Education Officer from the UWI Seismic Research Centre, Stacy Edwards, told media representatives on Thursday October 17, 2013, that the awareness is being done as part of activities to celebrate the centre’s 60th anniversary.

“As part of that celebration, we have been doing a series of activities throughout the year to commemorate our anniversary and we wanted to include Dominica in that celebration,” she said. “The Seismic Centre monitors earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis for the English Speaking islands of the Eastern Caribbean and that includes Dominica, so we decided to hold our “Earth Science Week” activities in Dominica this year, so that Dominica could be part of our 60th anniversary celebrations”.

Edwards noted that a wide cross section of nationals including school children have been educated on the island’s volcanic hazards.

“The week of activities was primarily on targeting secondary and primary school students. We started out in Portsmouth, moved on to Roseau and Grandbay and today (Thursday) we are going to the Carib Territory where we will basically be conducting volcano awareness workshops with primary and  secondary school students,” she pointed out.

The Seismic Research official used the opportunity to assure Dominicans that all nine volcanoes on the island continue to be dormant and there is no need to be alarmed.

“We are here as part of our routine Public awareness activities,” she stated.

She emphasized that “there is nothing special going on with the volcanoes in Dominica”.

Edwards said “The volcanoes are at background level as far as we know and there is no heightened volcanic activity”.

“We are here simply to remind Dominicans that they live on an island where there are nine live volcanoes and even though they are quiet at the moment, they are by no means dead and so they can erupt at any time and so people should always be aware of that,” assured Edwards.

The Seismic Research Centre (SRU) of the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, is the official source of information on earthquakes and volcanoes in the English-speaking eastern Caribbean.