Quake Chasers

Fifteen scientists from varied backgrounds describe how they came to study the physical sciences and offer guidance on pushing through setbacks. Each works on a different part of earthquake research, and their stories show how they have overcome barriers in society, in the laboratory, and in the field.

Debbie Weiser travels to places hit by disaster, including Japan and China, to assess the damage quakes leave behind, with the goal of protecting people before the next major earthquake. Geologist Edith Carolina Rojas hikes up volcanoes and crosses dry desert terrain in search of volcanic traces that help her gauge seismic activity. Geophysicist Lori Dengler, meanwhile, advises governments on how to prepare for and guard against tsunamis.

The book also explores how this work moves closer to answering the many open questions about earthquakes, and how that knowledge helps communities get ready for such disasters. Young readers interested in science will find encouragement here, along with practical advice from women who turned their own ambitions into careers.

The book is part of the Women of Power series, a collection of modern biographies that profile women from many backgrounds who are reshaping their fields and inspiring others to pursue their goals.