Our Team

Earthquake Answers brings together three earth scientists who have studied California’s faults firsthand and love sharing what they’ve learned. Founder Robert Leeper, M.S., spent nearly a decade with the U.S. Geological Survey uncovering the record of past earthquakes on the San Andreas and Newport-Inglewood faults, and now teaches geology at Mt. San Antonio College. Erin Burkett, Ph.D., is a geophysicist and former USGS staff scientist who has given more than 40 presentations on earthquakes and early warning, including a TEDx Riverside talk, and now teaches technical writing and communication at Caltech. Bryan Castillo, M.S., is an earthquake geologist and Cal State San Bernardino geology professor who published the first detailed paleoseismic study of the Banning strand of the San Andreas Fault. Together, we offer presentations, field trips, and tours on earthquake science, technology, and preparedness, and Robert also provides on-site home and business consultations.

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.

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, M.S. Geology — Professor of Geology & Founder

Biography

I'm a geologist, Professor of Geology at Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC), and the founder of Earthquake Answers. I grew up in Whittier, California, and my interest in earthquakes started on October 1, 1987, when the Whittier Narrows earthquake rocked my school bus side to side as it pulled up to a stop. I still remember watching confused, frightened kids scatter for home. That morning never left me.

In 2007 I changed careers and joined the U.S. Geological Survey in Pasadena, where I spent nearly a decade as a geologist working alongside Dr. Lucy Jones and Dr. Kate Scharer. While at the USGS I earned my B.S. (2013) and M.S. (2016) in Geological Sciences from California State University, Fullerton. My research focused on uncovering the record of past earthquakes on the San Andreas and Newport-Inglewood faults, finding evidence of past tsunamis along the California coast, and measuring the timing of post-wildfire debris flows and flash floods relative to intense rainfall. My 2017 Newport-Inglewood Fault study was covered by the Los Angeles Times, KPCC, the OC Register, KTLA, and Fox 11, and I contributed to documenting the surface rupture and ground deformation of the 2019 M6.4 and M7.1 Ridgecrest earthquakes.

Today I teach geology at Mt. SAC, including Environmental Geology, and coordinate the college's Geotechnician Certificate Program. I founded Earthquake Answers in 2018 to take earthquake science from the field into classrooms, homes, and communities, because the more you know about earthquakes, the more likely you are to prepare.

I also live what I teach. Creosote Cottage, in Morongo Valley, sits about half a mile from the Pinto Mountain Fault and two miles from the San Andreas. Through Earthquake Nights at Creosote Cottage, I invite groups to spend an afternoon learning regional geology, fault behavior, and practical preparedness, then stay for dinner under the desert sky.

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.