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School children in WA watched the seismic waves arrive at their school from the big earthquake in Chile just 20 minutes after it had hit - even before they heard about it on the news

Students in 40 schools around Australia now have seismometers installed as part of the Australian Seismometers in Schools Network ( AuSIS ).  With these instruments they are collecting data that is useful for Geoscience Australia and the international community of earthquake monitors.

Research Assistant Professor Nader Issa from UWA Geophysics in the School of Earth and Environment has helped to install seismometers in four of the eight WA schools in the program. The University is helping to co-ordinate the program to collect a wide range of data.

"The data they collect goes direct to the ANU and they pass it on to the international geoscience community," A/Professor Issa said. "It's an ongoing outreach program and, now the equipment has all been installed, the program plans to produce material for teachers to use so the seismometer also becomes a learning tool."

He said the schools were chosen through a combination of geographic location and the level of engagement of their science teachers.

Most seismometers are on loan to schools in rural areas. "There are a few in major cities, including one at Mazenod College in Lesmurdie," A/Professor Issa said. "It was chosen for its location on the Darling Scarp, which is on very hard bedrock.  It is very good for picking up seismic waves, much better than on the sandy soils of Perth."

The most recent seismometer he installed was at St Anne's Primary School in Harvey and was funded by the National Geosequestration Laboratory and UWA Geophysics. The students will need to apply what they will soon learn in their earth science module to interpret the data displayed on the equipment.

"We hope the program will raise awareness of geoscience and inspire the children to want to learn more about it," A/Professor Issa said.

He said the instruments were very sensitive and would also pick up the children "thumping around" during a normal day of school.