Discovery Series, Dr. John Carter, Seattle University

​What if the ocean could whisper its warnings before it roared? Along the volatile curve of the Pacific, the Ring of Fire pulses like a living scar—where tectonic plates collide, reshape, and sometimes rupture with devastating force. In 2011, deep beneath the waves off Tohoku, Japan, the Earth shifted. A megathrust earthquake unleashed a tsunami that reshaped coastlines and lives. Yet across the ocean, the United States felt only a faint echo—thanks to the intricate choreography of bathymetry and seismic energy.

​Now, scientists are listening more closely. One of them is John Carter, a professor of mathematics at Seattle University, whose work has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the Simons Foundation, and the Fulbright Commission. Carter is more than a researcher—he’s an educator committed to equipping students to tackle complex, interdisciplinary challenges. Through tsunami models and real-world data, he and his students are decoding the language of waves—testing simulations in labs that mimic nature’s fury, and asking: how well do our predictions hold up?

​The goal is urgent and ambitious: to forecast the next upheaval with precision, to understand how the Ring of Fire might speak again, and to ensure that when it does, we’re ready to respond—not just with science, but with foresight.

​About the Discovery Series: designed to bring together the state's preeminent researchers, innovative leaders, and elected officials who want to stay on top of important advancements being made in our state, each Discovery Series program includes lunch, networking time, a Q&A session, and an opportunity to meet the speaker. 

​Agenda 

​11:30 am to 12 pm - Lunch 

​12 pm to 12:40 pm - Presentation 

​12:40 pm to 1 pm - Audience Q&A