GeoLog

Bob Bateman

Bob Bateman is the founder of EarthquakeNearMe.org, a civic-tech project focused on translating seismic data for the public.

Making earthquakes understandable: How “Near Me” search behavior can guide better risk communication

Making earthquakes understandable: How “Near Me” search behavior can guide better risk communication

When a tremor shakes the ground, the first thing many people do isn’t check a scientific database: they reach for their phone. Within seconds, searches like “earthquake near me” surge across Google. This simple phrase captures something profound: a universal need not to understand seismic mechanics, but to know “Am I safe?” Over the past few years, this “near me” framing has quietly reshaped how t ...[Read More]