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A scientist who studies Texas earthquakes is set to speak Friday night at a teachers conference in Mercedes.

Cliff Frohlich, an earthquake seismologist who has studied the origins of Texas earthquakes, moonquakes and deep earthquakes, is the keynote speaker at the 21st annual Rio Grande Valley Science Association and the Science Teachers Association of Texas conference. Frohlich is associate director of the Institute for Geophysics at The University of Texas at Austin.

Most recently, the seismologist was called upon to study an earthquake that occurred in April about 45 miles southeast of San Antonio.

Teachers and the public alike could learn much about earth science by listening to Frohlich, Susana Ramirez, president of the Rio Grande Valley Science Association, said.

"The public will have a chance to gain more information about earthquakes (at the conference)," Ramirez said.

Frohlich will speak at 7:30 p.m. at the Biblioteca Las Americas on the South Texas Independent School District campus in Mercedes. The event is free and open to the public.