Lucy Jones

Jones has authored over 100 papers on research seismology with primary interest in the physics of earthquakes, foreshocks and earthquake hazard assessment, and the seismotectonics (earthquake-producing geologic structures) of southern California. Jones received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chinese language and literature, magna cum laude, from Brown University in 1976 and a Ph.D. in geophysics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1981.{{cite web|title=Lucy Jones|url=https://profile.usgs.gov/jones/|publisher=United States Geological Survey|access-date=19 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527014725/https://profile.usgs.gov/jones/|archive-date=27 May 2016|url-status=dead}} She visited China in February 1979 in order to study the 1975 Haicheng earthquake, which had apparently been successfully predicted by the Chinese authorities based on an analysis of its foreshock sequence. In doing so, she became one of the first United States scientists to enter China following the normalization of relations between the two countries.Wallace, 2011{{cite web|last1=Wallace|first1=Amy|title=Meet Lucy Jones, "the Earthquake Lady"|url=http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/meet-lucy-jones-the-earthquake-lady-18903045/?all|website=Smithsonian.com|publisher=The Smithsonian Institution|access-date=19 March 2016}} She is a past Secretary of the Seismology Section of the American Geophysical Union, and past director and past chair of the publications committee of the Seismological Society of America.{{cite web|title=Speaker Biographies|url=http://www.shakeout.org/2008/schools/080410kickoff/080410SchoolSeminarBios.pdf|website=School Seismic Safety Seminar|access-date=19 March 2016}}

Jones served as the Science Advisor for Risk Reduction for the USGS Natural Hazards Mission Area, as part of the SAFRR Project.{{Cite web|title=Science Application for Risk Reduction|url=https://www.usgs.gov/natural-hazards/science-application-risk-reduction|publisher=United States Geological Survey|language=en|access-date=2020-05-02}} She also worked as a Commissioner of the California Seismic Safety Commission (CSSC), which advises the governor and legislature on seismic safety, by appointment of Governor Gray Davis in 2002 and reappointment by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2005 and served on the California Earthquake Prediction Evaluation Council. In January 2014, she entered into a partnership on behalf of the USGS with the City of Los Angeles to serve as Seismic Risk Advisor to Mayor Eric Garcetti.{{Cite web|title=L.A. Mayor Garcetti calls for aggressive earthquake safety effort|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-xpm-2014-jan-14-la-me-ln-earthquake-safety-los-angeles-20140114-story.html|date=2014-01-14|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-02}}

After retiring from the USGS in 2016,{{cite journal|last1=Atencio|first1=Kevin B.|date=March 21, 2016|title=USGS soon {{as written|lo|oses [sic]|expecting=loses}} its seismologist Lucy Jones who annexing herself a role in public|url=http://microcapmagazine.com/2016-03-21-usgs-soon-looses-seismologist-lucy-jones-annexing-role-public/|url-status=dead|journal=Microcap Magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404070903/http://microcapmagazine.com/2016-03-21-usgs-soon-looses-seismologist-lucy-jones-annexing-role-public/|archive-date=4 April 2016|access-date=21 March 2016}} Jones founded the Dr. Lucy Jones Center for Science and Society and wrote a book published in 2018 titled The Big Ones: How Natural Disasters Have Shaped Us (and What We Can Do About Them).{{Cite web|title=The big one is coming to California, seismologist Lucy Jones says cheerfully|url=https://www.latimes.com/books/la-ca-jc-fob-lucy-jones-20180411-story.html|date=2018-04-11|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-02}} In the book, Jones chronicles some of the world's greatest natural disasters, such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes, and analyzes how people have responded to them in order to understand how future crises can be survived.{{Cite book|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/lucy-jones/the-big-ones/|title=THE BIG ONES {{!}} Kirkus Reviews|language=en}}

Jones was in residence at the University of Oregon's Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics as the Wayne Morse Chair, where she provided public talks on disaster preparedness and science communication.{{Cite web|title='Earthquake Lady' Lucy Jones is the next Wayne Morse Chair|url=https://around.uoregon.edu/content/earthquake-lady-lucy-jones-next-wayne-morse-chair|date=2019-10-02|website=Around the O|language=en|access-date=2020-05-24}}

Since 1986, Jones has given many interviews to the press on behalf of the US Geological Survey following significant earthquakes in southern California. In many media appearances, she worked together with fellow Caltech seismologist, Kate Hutton.{{Cite web|title=Shaking Up Stereotypes : Caltech 'Earthquake Ladies' Give Science a Human Face|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-07-04-ca-1219-story.html|date=1992-07-04|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-20}} In a 2004 profile of Jones, Tom Jordan of the Southern California Earthquake Center at USC was quoted as saying, "Lucy provides Southern California – and the nation – with a very calming voice and an authoritative voice to the public's inquiry in disaster." He also said that her high public profile may make her "one of the most effective chairs of CSSC ever".Lubick, 2004

Public perception of Jones as a voice of calm and reassurance has been attributed, in part, to an incident following the 1992 Joshua Tree earthquake in which she answered press questions while holding her sleeping child in her arms. In a 2011 interview, Jones denied the story that she asked the press to be quiet so as not to wake her son. She also expressed some regret that she became a symbol that "women can have it all".

In 2014, Jones was embedded at Los Angeles City Hall, a move by the USGS that Caltech's Tom Heaton credited with the September 2015 passage of a retrofitting plan that would increase seismic survivability of over 15,000 structures largely built of soft first story and non-ductile concrete.{{cite web|last1=Henry|first1=Jason|title=Why Lucy Jones' retirement might just save thousands of lives during earthquakes|url=http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/science/20160318/why-lucy-jones-retirement-might-just-save-thousands-of-lives-during-earthquakes|website=Pasadena Star-News|date=18 March 2016 |access-date=19 March 2016}}

In light of her reputation as a respected and trusted authority on earthquakes, Jones has been called upon for her comments regarding other natural disasters and crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=Dr. Lucy Jones explains how COVID-19 pandemic draws significant parallels to past disasters|url=https://abc7.com/6065706/|last=Miracle|first=Veronica|date=2020-03-31|website=ABC7 Los Angeles|language=en|access-date=2020-05-02}}{{Cite web|title=Words of wisdom from seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones amid COVID-19 crisis|url=https://www.foxla.com/news/words-of-wisdom-from-seismologist-dr-lucy-jones-amid-covid-19-crisis|last=Eisner|first=Hal|date=2020-03-20|website=FOX 11|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-02}}{{Cite web|title=Op-Ed: What earthquakes can teach us about the coronavirus pandemic|url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-05-03/big-ones-pandemic-coronavirus|date=2020-05-03|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-04}} According to Jones, in a crisis, the public is best served when they are given "one clear message" to minimize the possibility of overwhelming or confusing people.{{Cite web|last=Lelyveld|first=Nita|date=2020-06-27|title=Who doesn't trust Lucy Jones in a crisis? Here's what she has to say about the coronavirus pandemic|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-06-27/who-doesnt-trust-dr-lucy-jones-in-a-crisis-heres-what-she-has-to-say-about-the-coronavirus-pandemic|url-status=|access-date=2020-06-28|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}} And for the COVID-19 pandemic, that message, says Jones, is "[d]on't share your air" by wearing a mask and maintaining physical distance.

In 2022, Jones founded an initiative called "Tempo: Music for Climate Action" to encourage climate scientists, social scientists, and musicians to gather and explore climate issues.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-21 |title=Communal power of music can save planet: Dr. Lucy Jones {{!}} KCRW Features |url=https://www.kcrw.com/news/shows/kcrw-features/climate-change-music-lucy-jones |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=KCRW |language=en}}

Jones has received the Alquist Award from the California Earthquake Safety Foundation,{{Cite web|title=CESF: Winner 2000 Medal|url=http://www.calesf.org/Medal2000LJ.html|website=calesf.org|access-date=2020-05-02}} the Shoemaker Award for Lifetime Achievements in Science Communication from the USGS,{{Cite web|title=USGS Release: Local organizations receive communication awards for ShakeOut (3/4/2010 4:43:36 PM)|url=https://archive.usgs.gov/archive/sites/www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp-ID=2416.html|publisher=United States Geological Survey|access-date=2020-05-02}} the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal from the Partnership for Public Service in 2015,{{Cite web|title=USGS Seismologist Lucy Jones to Receive Prestigious Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal|url=https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/usgs-seismologist-lucy-jones-receive-prestigious-samuel-j-heyman-service-america-medal|date=2015-10-07|website=doi.gov|language=en|access-date=2020-05-02}} and the Seismological Society of America's Frank Press Public Service Award in 2018.{{Cite web|title=Lucy Jones {{!}} Seismological Society of America|url=https://www.seismosoc.org/award-recipient/lucy-jones/|publisher=Seismological Society of America |access-date=2020-05-02}} In 2024, Jones was one of USA Today's Women of the Year.{{cite web | title=Women of the Year | website=USA Today| date=February 29, 2024 | url=https://www.usatoday.com/women-of-the-year-2024 | access-date=February 29, 2024}}

Jones's uncle was an American diplomat living in Taiwan, and she moved to Taiwan to live with her uncle's family. In 1971, she graduated as the salutatorian from the Taipei American School before entering Brown University. Her Chinese name is {{Lang|zh|章光月}}.{{cite web |url=https://www.worldjournal.com/wj/story/121471/7717373 |title=Major earthquakes cannot be accurately predicted, but taking cover under a desk could save your life. |access-date=2024-05-04 |language=Chinese |website=世界新聞網}}

Jones, a fourth-generation resident of southern California, currently lives in Pasadena, California. She is married to fellow seismologist Egill Hauksson and they have two sons.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-lucy-jones-20160320-story.html|title=Lucy Jones is leaving her job – to shake up more than just earthquakes|date=2016-03-18|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-18}}

Jones is a musician and composer, who plays a Renaissance stringed instrument called the viol.{{Cite web|title=Quake Scientist Brings "Music for the Angels" to Pasadena Church|url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/quake-scientist-helps-bring-pasadena-church-music-for-the-angels/1960451/|website=NBC Los Angeles|date=28 September 2013 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-26}} She is a member of Los Angeles Baroque, which calls itself "LA's Community Baroque Orchestra."{{Cite web|title=Los Angeles Baroque|url=https://www.losangelesbaroque.org/|website=losangelesbaroque|language=en|access-date=2020-05-26}} In 2019, Jones released a music video accompanying a piece she composed called In Nomine Terra Calens, which translates to "In the Name of a Warming Earth".{{Cite web|title=In a new music video, Earth's climate is baroque|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/15/18625710/lucy-jones-climate-change-baroque-music-video-earth|last=Griggs|first=Mary Beth|date=2019-05-15|website=The Verge|language=en|access-date=2020-05-26}} In Nomine Terra Calens is her musical interpretation of global temperature data from 1880 to 2017, which shows an increase at what Jones calls a "terrifying" rate.{{Citation|title=In Nomine Terra Calens: In the name of a warming Earth| date=15 May 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4plSXjcjxVA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/4plSXjcjxVA |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2020-05-26}}{{cbignore}} In February 2019, Los Angeles Baroque performed In Nomine Terra Calens at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.{{Cite web|title=Music to Heal a Dying Planet – Eugene Weekly|date=13 June 2019 |url=https://www.eugeneweekly.com/2019/06/13/music-to-heal-a-dying-planet/|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-26}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite web

|title = USGS Professional Pages: Lucile M. Jones

|publisher = United States Geological Survey

|url = https://profile.usgs.gov/jones/

|access-date = 4 February 2011

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160527014725/https://profile.usgs.gov/jones/

|archive-date = 27 May 2016

|url-status = dead

}}

• [http://www.dailynews.com/opinion/20131210/how-the-big-one-would-destroy-southern-californias-infrastructure-editorial Lucy Jones speaking on the expected CA ‘Big One’ and the needed preparations, December 2013]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A5pNq1VNko 2015 SCEC Annual Meeting Honoree: Lucy Jones] – Southern California Earthquake Center
• [http://drlucyjonescenter.org/ Dr. Lucy Jones Center for Science and Society]
• [https://www.shakeout.org/ The Great ShakeOut]
• [https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/sir20235011 Science Application for Risk Reduction (SAFRR)]
• [https://www.scsn.org/ Southern California Seismic Network]
• [https://www.losangelesbaroque.org/ Los Angeles Baroque]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Lucy}}

Category:1955 births

Category:Living people

Category:20th-century American geologists

Category:20th-century American women scientists

Category:21st-century American geologists

Category:21st-century American women scientists

Category:American geophysicists

Category:American seismologists

Category:American women geologists

Category:Brown University alumni

Category:Massachusetts Institute of Technology School of Science alumni

Category:Scientists from Pasadena, California

Category:United States Geological Survey personnel

Category:American women geophysicists