Dec 29 2010
Dr. Nicholas Luco, a research structural engineer at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and member of the Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC) 2010 Provisions Update Committee has been awarded the 2010 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. This award is the highest recognition granted by the United States government to scientists and engineers in the early stages of their research careers.
"Science and technology have long been at the core of America's economic strength and global leadership," President Obama said. "I am confident that these individuals, who have shown such tremendous promise so early in their careers, will go on to make breakthroughs and discoveries that will continue to move our nation forward in the years ahead."
Each year, ten federal departments and agencies join together to nominate outstanding scientists and engineers. Lucos was recognized for his work to minimize earthquake losses by researching structural responses to ground motion in high risk areas. A new “risk-targeted” ground motion mapping procedure he championed correlates building design standards directly to probabilistic building damage during shaking events and has become a critical element in earthquake-resistant design criteria.
Through his professional leadership, this new procedure has been adopted by the BSSC and the American Society of Civil Engineers for inclusion in future editions of the International Building Code. Read the USGS announcement about Luco.
