In 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake reminded us once again how nature can bring about a catastrophe. It is said that Japan has entered into a seismic activity period since around 1995 when the Great Hanshin Earthquake struck western Japan. The Tokyo metropolitan area where our university is located is said to have a 70-percent probability of being struck by an earthquake of magnitude 7 within 30 years. Our laboratory is developing methods to easily evaluate the earthquake resistance of the ground and structures in order to reduce possible damage from earthquakes, while providing local residents and children education on disaster preparedness.