Hi Amit Dave,

And as I have said in considerable detail before in posts on this board, one of the major problems is that scientists spend a lot time learning how to add numbers. But they generally receive no training at all regarding how to discuss controversial subjects in public. And forecasting earthquakes can be highly controversial.

My own field of science is somewhat different. Those of us working in this area of science start receiving training like that from Day 1. It is a matter of survival.

One solution for that controversial subject matter problem would be to provide college level training for scientists regarding how to discuss these types of things in public without getting the general public and governments upset. However, that solution would take many years to implement.

A better way to deal with this in some reasonable amount of time would be for governments to hire professional disaster mitigation personnel to run their earthquake forecasting programs.

Scientists keep looking at their data in the hope that they can get 100 % certainty regarding some forecast. And that will probably never happen.

Professional disaster mitigation personnel would say, “We can never have 100% certainty. And rather than allow earthquakes to keep claming lives around the world we need to start moving forward with whatever data are available.”

Will governments ever come to a realization that hiring professional disaster mitigation personnel to run their earthquake forecasting programs instead of classically trained scientists could be a matter of life and death for innumerable people?

Don’t hold your breath!

These are personal opinions.