By STEVE FREKER
MALDEN — Across the world, at least once a week, an earthquake can be detected and measured by a device called a seismograph.
Even with the smallest earthquake activity, Malden Catholic High School now has a way to measure those minute — or major — vibrations.
Boston College, Weston Observatory and Malden Catholic alumni helped the school acquire a seismograph. It can detect seismic activity anywhere in the Eastern hemisphere.
Bringing seismography to Malden was the brainchild of Malden Catholic Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Director Dr. Diane Perito, who called the introduction of the earthquake study “a natural extension to provide students with opportunities to make connections between science, technology, engineering, and math through the content being taught.”
School administrators dedicated the seismograph by inviting scientists to the school, including Alan Kafka, director of the Weston Observatory; Marilyn Bibeau, Weston administrator, Anastasia Macherides Moulis, educational seismologist and Malden Catholic Class of 1946 who joined alumnus Vincent Murphy, a renowned geophysicist; Malden Catholic Headmaster Thomas J. Doherty and Principal Brother Thomas Puccio, CFX.
Puccio said a team of STEM teachers are “already using data collected from a seismograph to monitor and interpret real-time seismic activity. The curriculum is being supported by a trained educational seismologist who works alongside our teachers.”
Murphy is helping to nurture the new program and he is thrilled with the initial results.
“I am happy to be able to help connect the past and the future and see how it first into this new program at Malden Catholic,” he said.