Freshman Senator Visits EarthScope/EPIC

On Friday, February 22nd, New Mexico's newest member of the United States Senate, Martin Heinrich, paid a visit to New Mexico Tech, and the EarthScope/EPIC. Senator Heinrich, who won his seat in the 2012 general election, is a strong advocate for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education, and is the only engineer currently serving in the senate.

Senator Heinrich was given an overview of activities at the school by New Mexico Tech President Dr. Dan Lopez, and also toured the Mechanical Engineering Department.  Dr. Rick Aster escorted Sen. Heinrich on a tour of the EPIC, the world’s largest and the nation’s flagship federally-funded lending library of seismology equipment.

At the EarthScope/EPIC, from Left-Right:  EPIC Principal Investigator Rick Aster, Senator Martin Heinrich, New Mexico Tech president Dan Lopez, and graduate research assistant Heather Bloemhard and Software & Control Engineer Allen Farris (of the Magdalena Ridge Observatory).
	Left-Right:  EPIC Director Bruce Beaudoin, EPIC Principal Investigator Rick Aster, Senator Martin Heinrich, EPIC Program Manager James Gridley, and Global Seismographic Network (GSN) Program Manager Kent Anderson.
Rick Aster (left) discusses the EPIC mission with Senator Heinrich (center) and NM Tech president Dan Lopez (right).  Kent Anderson of the GSN is standing behind Senator Heinrich.
	Professor Aster shows the senator the inner workings of a semi-permanent broad-band seismic station.

We thank Senator Heinrich and his staff for taking the time visit and learn about EarthScope, New Mexico Tech, and the Socorro Community.