The EERI was formed in 1948 as an advising committee of the
United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. It quickly became its own independent,
nonprofit organization, with the purpose of studying why buildings fail under earthquake disasters, and what methods can prevent these failures. At first they conducted their research in laboratories of different University or Government groups. As the EERI grew, they began to more often send research funds to the Universities, and have the university conduct the research. EERI focused more on identifying and investigating areas in need of research, and policymaking based on the university's lab results. In 1952 the EERI organized the first conference on earthquake engineering (
Symposium on Earthquake and Blast Effects on Structures), at
UCLA. In 1956, in observation of the 50th anniversary of the
1906 San Francisco earthquake, they held the first World Conference on Earthquake Engineering at
University of California, Berkeley. In 1984, the 8th World Conference was held in
San Francisco. This conference brought in scientists from 54 countries. At first, membership to the EERI was limited to invite-only engineers and scientists. In 1973, they began to select members by application, and increased their membership from 126 to 721 by 1978. In 1991, EERI began receiving funding from the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to continue publishing information on how to reduce damage from earthquakes. After a number of location changes, the EERI headquarters settled in
Oakland,
California. Their quarterly journal,
Earthquake Spectra, covers current research on earthquake engineering and is available online or by subscription. Its target audience is any geologist, seismologist, or related engineer. EERI also publishes many other types of information, including a monthly newsletter, the Connections oral history series, and field investigation reports.
EERI Presidents •
Ellen M. Rathje (2025 - ) •
Janiele Maffei (2023 -2025) •
David Cocke (2021 - 2023) •
Laurie A. Johnson (2019 - 2020) • David Friedman (2017 - 2018) •
Mary C. Comerio (2015 - 2016) •
Ian G. Buckle (2013 - 2014) •
L. Thomas Tobin (2011 - 2012) •
Farzad Naiem (2009 - 2010) •
Thalia Anagnos (2007 - 2008) •
Craig D. Comartin (2005 - 2006) •
Thomas D. O'Rourke (2003 - 2004) •
Chris D. Poland (2001 - 2002) • Christopher Arnold (1999 - 2000) •
Joanne M. Nigg (1997 - 1998) •
Loring A. Wyllie (1995 - 1996) •
Lloyd S. Cluff (1993 - 1994) •
J. Carl Stepp (1991 - 1992) •
Robert D. Hanson (1989-90) •
Frank E. McClure (1987 - 1988) •
Robert V. Whitman (1985 - 1986) •
Mihran S. Agbabian (1983 - 1984) •
Paul C. Jennings (1981 - 1982) •
John A. Blume (1978 - 1980) •
Henry J. Degenkolb (1974 - 1977) •
C. Martin Duke (1970 - 1973) •
Karl V. Steinbrugge (1968 - 69) •
John E. Rinne (1966 - 67) •
Paul E. Jeffers (1952 - 53) •
George W. Housner (1950 - 51, 1954, & 1965) •
Lydik S. Jacobsen (1949) ==California earthquake assessments==