Tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanoes.

Although increased media attention to the tsunami disaster has piqued some national interest in natural disasters, students at Penn State have always been interested.

Earth 101 (Natural Disasters: Hollywood vs. Reality) is one of the most popular classes at Penn State, geosciences professor Kevin Furlong said.

"I think there's always enhanced interest [in natural disasters], but there's also a half-life interest," said Charles Ammon, associate professor of geosciences. "As we move away from these events, people's interest lessens."

The class was limited to 130 students, but Ammon opened the class to 15 more this semester.

"I don't know if [the increase] was because of the [recent] disasters or not," Ammon said.

"Other students have been trying to get in, but we can't handle any more," he said.

Stacey Gathers (junior-film) said she was not interested in natural disasters until the recent tsunami disaster happened. "I think the class will be valuable because I had no idea [the tsunami] was coming," Gathers said. "I think now I have a better understanding of it."

Ammon said the class is always tailored to current events, which makes it more interesting and relevant.

"...this semester, we are starting out with tsunamis and using current data as our primary data source," Furlong said.

Elizabeth Paris (sophomore-advertising) said she found it fascinating that natural disasters were happening as the class was learning about them.

Ammon said it is important for people to be educated about natural disasters. The frequent occurrences of natural disasters keeps people's attention glued to what is happening, which probably accounts for the popularity of the class, he said.

"We are very flexible with the courses to adapt as events are happening," Furlong said. "We focus on how natural disasters have a societal impact and link that with scientific and societal issues."

Ammon and Furlong said the recent number of natural disasters has not been above average, but their location is perhaps what has generated so much media attention.

"These events happen, but there isn't anything specifically driving them to happen at once," Furlong said.

The class uses a number of natural disaster movies as a springboard for discussion about natural disasters -- media versus reality.

As a film major, Gathers said she appreciates the class for tying the representation of disasters by the media and reality.

"I think now I have a better understanding of [the tsunami]," she said. "I wouldn't be surprised if there will be movies about it coming out.''

Paris, who took the class in the fall, said she regrets that there are not any follow-up classes for people who become interested in the subject.