David is a professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of California, Riverside. He is a seismologist that is particularly interested in the physical processes taking place during earthquakes, addressing questions like “what makes some earthquakes particularly big and damaging, while others remain small and benign?” He uses numerical simulations of earthquakes to investigate the basic physics of earthquakes, as well as how large an earthquake might be expected on specific fault systems, such as the San Andreas in California. Dr. Oglesby also is very interested in how strong, damaging ground motion is generated, and how people can prepare for and ameliorate the dangers of earthquakes. He regularly teaches classes on earthquakes and other natural hazards, and enjoys outreach on earthquakes and earthquake safety to the general public.

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