Georgia Southern University researcher Cemil Yavas knows firsthand the devastation that earthquakes can bring to communities. “My interest in earthquake prediction research stems from a deeply personal experience,” Yavas said. “I was in Istanbul during the devastating Aug. 17, 1999, earthquake – a disaster that claimed nearly 18,000 lives and left hundreds of thousands homeless. Among those affected were some of my closest friends. The chaos that followed – limited resources, strained rescue efforts, and the haunting sound of people trapped beneath rubble – left a lasting impression on me.”