The IRIS Seismographs In Schools program, funded by the National Science Foundation, provides simple seismographs (the AS1) capable of recording
earthquakes from around the world. Students can analyze data from their
seismograph and from other schools to determine the magnitude and
locations of earthquakes.
Near-real-time recordings of the school seismograph can be displayed on a Web site. IRIS distributes up to 30 AS1 seismographs per year, and over 100 AS1s have been given out to K-12 schools, science centers and organizations and universities.
The IRIS Seismographs is Schools program is part of the US Educational Seismology Network (USESN) initiative. The USESN is comprised of universities and other groups engaged in seismology education. The goals of the USESN include promoting the classroom use of educational seismographs and seismic data and disseminating hands-on curricular materials and educational services.
AS1 Users Mailing List
Do you have questions or suggestions for setting up and using the AS1 seismograph, or just want to hear what others are doing? Then join the AS1 users mailing list. The list includes both educators and scientists.
To subscribe to the mailing list, please fill out the web form at: http://www.iris.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/irised
A public archive of this mailing list is also available at:
http://www.iris.washington.edu/pipermail/irised
Additional Information
More AS1 Links:
- Buy your own AS1 seismograph from the Amateur Seismologist.
- Build your own seismograph using plans from the Public Seismic Network.
- Visit Dr. John Lahr’s Web site for AS1 information, pictures of his classroom and workshop, table top seismology activity, and more.
- Dr. Larry Braile’s AS1 pages.
- Dr. Alan Kafka’s AS1 pages.
- SpiNet: An educational seismology group.
- Read more about plans for the USESN in the USESN workshop report (in pdf format).
- Read an article about the Colorado School of Mines students designing seismographs.


