EQF-I don't agree with your arguments on publishing papers and obtaining grants: the fact is, a lot of money is being spent on earthquake-related research-I think the NEHRP program of the USGS is something like $100 million/year (this would need to be checked). I am the beneficiary of the external ($6 million) part of this-with 3 months salary this year to map faults near Los Angeles (after 2 extremely lean years, although maybe not compared to Lowell's funding or lack thereof). Maybe not much of this is spent on short-term prediction (is that the term?), but it is spent on earthquake research. And, the National Science Foundation has been supportive of billion $ programs like Earthscope and Plate Boundary Observatory (again, I'm not checking my numbers).
So, the question is how to frame good ideas in a way to get a small piece. The fact is, amateurs can not get any federal money. The only way is to work with Ph.D scientists affiliated with a University or Research organization. And, that is not enough-the research must be framed correctly.-Chris