The Earthquake Engineering Research Center (EERC) was established in 1976 as a multidisciplinary institution to conduct scientific and professional research on the diverse topics of earthquake engineering, engineering seismology and socio-economic aspects of earthquakes. Since then, the Center has become one of the most active research centers in the Middle East Technical University (METU). Many technical journal papers as well as international conference proceedings are published by the members of the Center that are based on the scientific and professional research conducted within the framework of the Center. EERC-METU also aims to organize national and international workshops and conferences to disseminate the recent developments in the earthquake-engineering related studies to the public. Recently, the Center hosted the "5th National Conference on Earthquake Engineering" and "Earthquake Engineering: Essentials and Applications International Seminar" that can be considered among specific efforts to fulfill this objective. Being one of the oldest research centers in its field, EERC-METU has established very close relationships with governmental agencies to shed light on earthquake related problems of Turkey. One of the most remarkable products of this collaborative work is the seismic zoning map of Turkey that is still in force as per seismic regulations of the country. Similarly, the Center is currently leading the National Strong Ground Motion project funded by the Turkish Scientific Research and Technology Council (TUBITAK) that aims to re-compile the Turkish strong ground-motion databank including the site characterization of Turkish strong-motion sites. The Center also played a major role in the professional structural rehabilitation projects after the devastating earthquakes in Turkey. The Center has also collaborated with many international research projects that are funded by the NATO (Science for Peace projects) and the EU.