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Gregory Smits

Gregory Smits

Professor of History and Asian Studies
211 Weaver
Office Phone: (814) 863-0172
Gregory Smits

Education:

BA, University of Florida, 1983
MA, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, 1987
PhD, University of Southern California, 1992

Biography:

My research mainly concerns the history of earthquakes in Japan, both the impact of seismicity on society and the history of science. I have written about significance of the 1855 Ansei Edo earthquake and about earthquakes and tsunamis along Japan’s Pacific northeast coast in the modern era. Projected future projects include a history of seismology in Japan and a broadening of the geographic scope of my work on earthquakes to East Asia as a whole. My teaching interests include world history, the history of science and technology, and East Asia.

Awards and Services: