WHAT: Dr. Lucy Jones, a noted seismologist for 33 years with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), will speak about how earthquakes, floods and other disasters have both benefited and beset civilizations throughout recorded history.

Jones, who developed the Great ShakeOut, an earthquake drill that has engaged 55 million participants, also will discuss what such disasters reveal about mankind’s potential for humanitarian efforts and healing on a global scale.

The topics are themes addressed in her forthcoming book, “The Big Ones: How Natural Disasters Have Shaped Us (and What We Can Do About Them).”

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21

WHERE: Rio Hondo College Wray Theater, 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier

DETAILS: Jones, who holds a Ph.D. in geophysics from MIT, worked for the USGS until 2016, most recently as the agency’s science advisor for risk reduction.

Jones is the founder of the Dr. Lucy Jones Center for Science and Society, which aims to foster the understanding and application of scientific information to create more resilient communities. She is also a research associate at Caltech’s Seismological Laboratory, a post she has held since 1984.

Rio Hondo College arranges talks by experts in a variety of fields. The Cultural Events calendar includes art, music, dance and lectures that aim to engage the entirety of the College community.