Our Team

Robert is available for on-site home or business consultations and presentations on earthquake science, technology, and preparedness, and for field trips and tours.

Edith is available for presentations on earthquake science, technology, and preparedness, and for field trips and tours.

Erin is available for presentations on earthquake science, technology, and preparedness, and for field trips and tours.

Bryan is available for presentations on earthquake science, technology, and preparedness, and for field trips and tours.

Edith Rojas, MSc. Geology Science Communicator

biography

Edith Rojas, MSc. Geology, Science Communicator

Edith Rojas was born in Nicaragua. During childhood she experienced several volcanic eruptions and large earthquakes. She witnessed first-hand how devastating natural disasters can be for people that do not understand or prepare for them. This instilled in her a love, respect, and curiosity for how natural hazards work and a passion and commitment to learning all she can about them and communicating her knowledge to the public. Edith believes that educating people about natural hazards is an effective way to help increase personal heath and safety and decrease loss of life during and following disasters.

Following a 2009 summer internship at the United States Geological Survey in Pasadena, CA, Edith changed her career path from law to geology. She earned her BSc. and MSc. in Geological Sciences from California State University, Los Angeles. She studied volcanic processes, deposits, and hazards. As part of her graduate research, she identified and characterized pyroclastic flows (ignimbrites) and constrained the age of the ignimbrite source using Uranium-Lead isotopes (U-Pb). 

Edith is currently an instructor of geology at the College of the Desert. Her professional and personal interests include natural hazards and disasters risk assessment and management, hazards communication and geoscience education.

Edith embraces opportunities to present and communicate important information about natural hazards and preparedness and planning.

Please contact edith@earthquakeanswers.com to request a presentation.

Erin Burkett, PhD. Geophysics
Science Communicator

biography

Erin Burkett, PhD. Geophysics, Science Communicator

Erin Burkett earned a BSc. in Physics and a Minor in Art from the University of Delaware (2004) and completed a PhD. in Geophysics at the University of California, Davis (2010). Erin began her career as a geophysicist, conducting computer modeling research of plate tectonic processes.  She has since served as a science communicator, lecturer, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math) writing specialist, exploring ways in which she can enhance awareness, knowledge, appreciation, and communication of science.  

Upon completion of her PhD. in 2010, Erin continued geodynamic modeling during postdoctoral research at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).  Alongside her geophysics research, she explored a growing interest in outreach and communication by serving as a tour guide and speaker for visitors to the Caltech Seismological Laboratory who wished to learn more about earthquake science, hazards, and technology.  A few of the Caltech outreach projects involved collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and following her post-doc she was hired as a USGS Staff Scientist in the Pasadena field office.  She worked on a number of projects to help improve the communication of natural hazards science and earthquake early warning (EEW) technology.  Her contributions included collaborating with local schools to test EEW technology and giving over 40 presentations to share natural hazard information with audiences ranging between scientists, engineers, emergency managers, politicians, students, and teachers throughout Southern California.  Erin currently works as a STEM writing specialist and lecturer at Caltech, teaching technical writing courses, working with students in one-to-one consultations, and developing communication workshops and resources.  

Erin welcomes opportunities to share her knowledge and expertise with those wishing to learn more, particularly about earthquake science, technology, and preparedness.

Please contact erin@earthquakeanswers.com to request a presentation.

Bryan Castillo, MSc. Geology Science Communicator

BIOGRAPHY

Bryan Castillo, MSc. Geology, Science Communicator

Bryan Castillo is a first generation college graduate and the first scientist in his family. He felt his first earthquake in high school (2008 M5.4 Chino Hills). This inspired him to pursue his career in Geosciences. He earned his BSc. (2016) in Geophysics from California State University, Northridge and his MSc. (2019) in Geology from California State University, San Bernardino.

Bryan specializes in earthquake geology/paleoseismology. He co-authored a research paper focused on the July 2019 Ridgecrest earthquake sequence. Bryan recently published the first ever detailed paleoseismic study on the Banning strand of the San Andreas fault.

Bryan is a Geology professor at California State University, San Bernardino where he emphasizes in his teaching the importance of better understanding earthquakes and seismic hazards in California.

Please contact bryan@earthquakeanswers.com to request services.

Robert Leeper, MSc. Geology Owner, Founder, and Science Communicator

BIOGRAPHY

Robert Leeper, MSc. Geology, Owner & Founder

Following a career change in 2007, Robert began working for the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in Pasadena, CA. While working for the USGS he earned his BSc. (2012) and MSc. (2015) in Geological Sciences from California State University, Fullerton. During the past 13 years, Robert’s work and studies focused on understanding geologic hazards and their processes and how to best communicate the science to the public. He worked to identify evidence of past tsunamis along the California coastline and evidence of past earthquakes along the Newport-Inglewood Fault in southern California. Robert also helped advance a method to measure the timing of post-wildfire debris flows and flash floods relative to intense rainfall events. He also contributed to a recently published study focused on documenting surface fault rupture and ground deformation produced by the July 4th and July 5th, 2019, M6.4 and M7.1 Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence.

Robert was born and raised in Whittier, California, and has been interested in earthquakes since experiencing the October 1, 1987, Whittier Narrows earthquake while on a school bus. He distinctly remembers the bus rocking side to side as it approached a bus stop, and seeing confused and frightened kids scatter home.

Media Coverage of Robert's Newport-Inglewood Fault Study

KPCC - Take Two 

Los Angeles Times

OC Register

KTLA5

Please contact robert@earthquakeanswers.com to request a presentation.