We are proposing a series of 3 workshops to be held over three years focusing on the subject of scattered wave imaging using earthquakes recorded by densely spaced broadband seismograph arrays, and particularly using the USArray data. The workshops will be organized by a steering committee, and developed in cooperation with the participating scientists as the series progresses. The workshops will be advertised broadly and will be open to anyone interested in attending. The workshops will be designed to accelerate the development of scattered wave imaging techniques by creating a virtual center of scientists and students. The virtual center will actively engage scientists and students involved in this research in a working forum for exchange of ideas, joint development of software, and exchange of field and synthetic datasets. Workshop and study topics will include 1) investigation of the effects of the approximations used in formulating imaging algorithms on the final images, 2) testing and validation of different imaging methods using field and synthetic data, 3) experiment design criteria, 4) seismic velocity analysis, and 5) relating the images to composition and physical state of the Earth. The workshops will be designed to include working classes for graduate students (and senior scientists) involved in this research area. This will build community in the new generation of young scientists who are emerging as the next group of theoretical leaders in seismology, and who will reap the benefits of the Earthscope endeavor. The synergy of bringing people from academic and industrial backgrounds will advance the field more rapidly than is possible otherwise. This improved communication will help advance knowledge in both the academic and industrial research communities and enhance cross-fertilization between these groups.
