Increasing seismic hazard and risk awareness in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia: Seismometers in Schools Pilot Programme

Abstract

Central Sulawesi is bisected by the Palu-Koru Fault and other nearby faults. Despite numerous earthquakes, there is very little awareness of these fault structures and their potential to cause damage. Through the Strengthened Indonesian Resilience: Reducing Risks from Disasters (StIRRRD) programme, the local Badan Penanggulangan Bencana Daerah (BPBD) in both Donggala and Palu identified a concern about the lack of community knowledge of local seismic hazards and risks. They wish to see an increased awareness of the Palu-Koro Fault using a programme that builds on existing hazard and preparedness programmes in schools. To help achieve this, StIRRRD launched Indonesia’s first pilot Seismometers in Schools (SIS) programme, in partnership with the Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika (BMKG) and Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia (LIPI), in Central Sulawesi in March 2018. Seismometers in Schools is an education initiative already present in Australia, New Zealand and the United States which involves installing seismometers in schools as a tool to increase awareness of seismic hazards and risks. Information from the seismometers can be analysed by mathematics, physics or geography students to assess earthquakes recorded locally or from around the world. Seismometers have been installed in four schools, SMA Negeri Model Terpadu Madani and MAN 1 in Palu City, SMA N 1 Banawa in Donggala and SMA N 1 Bahadopi in Morowali with a more sophisticated three component device installed at the University of Tadulako, Palu. To compliment the installation, teaching resource packs were gifted and training workshops held with teachers to assist them with better integrating local seismic hazard and risk projects into their curriculums.