22 Facts About Bruce Bolt

Bruce Bolt was an Australian-born American seismologist and a professor of earth and planetary science at the University of California, Berkeley.

Professor Bolt was known as a pioneer of seismic engineering.

Bruce Bolt served for 15 years on the California Seismic Safety Commission leading public debate on earthquake safety in that state, and acted as a consultant on major projects throughout the world.

Bruce Bolt's research led to construction of earthquake resilient bridges and buildings.

Bruce Bolt was elected to the National Academy of Engineering "for application of the principles of seismology and applied mathematics to engineering decisions and public policy".

Bruce Bolt was born in Largs, New South Wales just north of Maitland in 1930.

Bruce Bolt studied at the University of Sydney obtaining his bachelor's degree in 1952, a master's degree in 1955 and a doctorate in applied mathematics in 1959.

Bruce Bolt lectured at Sydney University in mathematics but developed an interest in mathematical modelling of the Earth's interior.

Bruce Bolt started as director of the Berkeley Seismological Stations in 1963 and served in that position until 1991.

Bruce Bolt identified the impact of near-fault effects of earthquakes as well as the "fling" where the fault slips during an earthquake which has a strong impact on structures near the quake.

Professor Bruce Bolt was elected to the US National Academy of Engineering in 1978 as recognition for his contribution to that profession.

Bruce Bolt identified that the epicenter of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake was near Daly City, California not near Olema, California in Marin County as had been previously thought.

Bruce Bolt helped to design a simulation of the 1906 quake at the California Academy of Sciences museum in Golden Gate Park which has been seen by millions of people.

Bruce Bolt has written a number of works including Earthquakes: a Primer in 1978 and Inside the Earth: Evidence from Earthquakes in 1982.

Professor Bruce Bolt served on the California Seismic Safety Commission for 15 years including a year as chairman in 1986.

Bruce Bolt retired from teaching in 1993 and became professor emeritus of seismology, thus continuing his academic activities until his death.

Bruce Bolt was a consultant on seismology for every major earthquake engineering project including on the Diablo Canyon Power Plant as well as international projects including the Aswan Dam, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System and BART tube under the San Francisco Bay.

Bruce Bolt died of pancreatic cancer in July 2005 at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Oakland.

Bruce Bolt was a citizen of the US at the time of his death.

Bruce Bolt received many awards for his scientific achievements, among them:.

In 1995, Bruce Bolt delivered the fifth Mallet-Milne memorial lecture for the Society for Earthquake and Civil Engineering Dynamics, in London.

Professor Bruce Bolt wrote six textbooks and edited eight book on earthquakes, geology and computers among other topics.