VolcaKnowledge

Ever wondered what life is like for a scientist who works a volcano observatory during an ongoing eruption?! Well now you don't have to! In this special VolcaKnowledge episode we're joined by two of the science team from the United States Geological Survey Hawai'i Volcano Observatory (USGS HVO) to discuss the current* activity at Kīlauea volcano. HVO Research Geologists Dr. Kendra J. L...

For our latest episode, we dig (literally) into the world of geological field tools with geologist Lauren Heerschap, CEO of Brunton - one of our sponsors. Join us as we discuss Lauren's journey from geologist to designing tools to running a company! Lauren Heerschap (she/her) is a geologist and educator whose invention of the revolutionary Axis transit led to her to working alongside Brunton f...

Volcanic rocks can prove very versatile as building and construction materials , and in one site in south west England, a 400 million year old band of volcanic lava is being used for exactly that! In this episode, we speak to Ben Dormer, Operations Director and prior Quarry Manager, for John Wainwright & Co ., an aggregates and asphalt quarrying operation in Somerset, England. At Moons Hill Qu...

Our relationship with the natural world can be both emotional and spiritual , as well as one of just physical science. But by blending those, we can create an even deeper understanding and respect for the processes and history of our planet. Here to talk to us more about this connection, and her new book " The Whispers of Rock " is Earth Scientist, Presenter and Author, Anjana Khatwa. Dr...

Imagine going to work every day with a volcano AS your backyard... and your job? to guide people around that volcano and it's incredible environment. In this episode we're joined by Shanda Ochs, an Interpretive Park Ranger for Lassen Volcanic National Park in California, USA. Shanda Ochs has been working as a ranger around Lassen and it's environment for over 20 years , learning about this incredi...

Ever wondered what happens behind the doors of a natural history museum? From collections, archives, conservation to research, there is so much to learn and that we don't see as visitors. To give us some insight into this, please welcome Chiara Maria Petrone from NHM London! Dr Chiara Maria Petrone (she/her) is head of Volcano Petrology at the Natural History Museum, in London, UK . Her resear...

Volcanoes and earth science are a very visual field, where illustrations and sketches are critical for a targeted and simplistic understanding. In this episode we speak with scientific illustrator Annabelle Foster about the importance of accurate illustrations and schematics in Earth Science, as well as setting up her own business in this area. Annabelle is a scientific illustrator and Earth scien...

Every continent has a highest mountain, but every continent also has a highest volcano! Wouldn't it be incredible to climb all seven?! So let's speak to someone who has done it! This episode we're joined by mountaineer, military veteran and volcanic climber, Ricardo Kaljouw, who recently completed the Seven Volcanic Summits challenge - to talk all about his experiences climbing these s...

Time to get artistic, as nature IS one of our greatest artists, but sometimes we also need human artists to help us better visualize and interpret the world around us. We're joined in this episode by nature illustrator and geologist, Vojta Hybl , as he takes us through his journey across geology and art, and how he is using art as a way of communicating the geological world with the public. Vojta...

How can we use the ever-growing world of social media to educate people about volcanoes?? We're joined by volcano science communicator and content creator, Denali, to discuss everything from creating funny and informative videos to battling viral misinformation during volcanic crises. Denali (they/them) is a graduate student pursuing a PhD in volcanic geochemistry . They obtained a Bachelors o...

We kickstart Season 3 diving into one of the founding places for the modern study and science of geology... Scotland. Three billion years of history, with plenty of volcanic activity along the way! But what if you had someone to guide you through this incredible landscape?? In this episode we're joined by geoscience communicator, presenter and "scottish geologist" Luisa Hendry (she/h...

We finish this season with a focus on training the next generation of geoscience communicators. We're joined by Sharon Backhouse, Director of the GeoTenerife research and training program based in Canary Islands. We talk about the program and also delve into tourism on volcanic islands, geo-sustainability, and public education of risk and hazards. I (Sharon) am a journalist and an ardent lover...

What was your first geology or earth science class? Did you have someone that was an influence in your path? We're joined by community college geology professor Edith Rojas to talk about her personal journey from Nicaragua to the USA, changing career paths, and now passing on geological inspiration to a new diverse generation. Edith Rojas Salazar (she/her/ella) is an associate professor of Geo...

Did you know that there are volcanoes in Australia?! Well, it's time to take a journey down under for fascinating insight into the history of Australia's volcanoes, the importance of indigenous aboriginal history, and bringing together that knowledge with new physical scientific data.... and Dr. Heather Handley is the perfect guide for this journey! Dr. Heather Handley is an Associate Prof...

Video games and volcanoes... who knew?! Ed and Jazmin take us through their gaming experiences as trained volcano scientists, and how they blended their two loves into educational research assessing the accuracy of geology in video games. No surprise, some are more accurate than others! What memories of volcanoes do YOU have in video games? Ed McGowan (he/him) is a PhD researcher at the University...

Iceland is a country of great volcanic interest with three eruptions in one area since 2021, which has been a hotspot for tourism. We speak with Jorge Montalvo about educating and informing the public safely in one of the most popular volcanic countries in the world. Let's meet Jorge - Geologist, Secondary School Teacher, and Science Communicator. I am a Colombian-born Icelandic geologist with...

We're joined this week by Anais Vásconez Müller from Ecuador to talk about a personal journey from growing up inside a volcanic caldera to becoming a volcanologist working at a observatory studying the same volcano! What a circle! My name is Anais Vásconez Müller (she/her) and I am a German-Ecuadorian hybrid who after an internship at IG-EPN in Ecuador in 2016 decided that I wanted to be a vol...

It's time for our first DOUBLE-GUEST episode! We're joined by geoscience communication specialists Wendy Bohon and Beth Bartel to talk all about the importance of science communication and training scientists to convey their messages to the public, especially when it comes to natural hazards! Dr. Wendy Bohon (she/her) is an earthquakes geologist who studies earthquakes and works to improve...

In episode 3, Monique Johnson from the University of West Indies Seismic Research Centre (UWI-SRC) talks to us about the challenges and rewards of community education and training, and working with local children on volcanic islands. Monique Johnson (she/her) is an Earth scientist exploring the impacts of geological hazards in the Caribbean including the barriers and capacities for disaster risk r...

In our first guest episode of season 2, Robin George Andrews takes us into the wild weird world of science journalism. How do you write a compelling and truthful story about volcanoes for the general public?! Dr. Robin George Andrews (he/him) is a freelance science journalist with a doctorate in volcanology. He is often found writing about the Earth, space, and planetary sciences for the Atlantic,...

After a year away, we're FINALLY back with a whole new season! Our host Sam Mitchell will be chatting with our producer Huw James , reviewing last season and teasing some of the exciting topics coming up in this new season! We'll also take a dive into some volcanic activity over the last few years and the new direction we'll be going on... VolcaKnowledge is a podcast all about how volc...

In our final episode for Series 1, we're stepping off this world as Dr. Natalie Starkey takes us on a journey to volcanic activity across the solar system, and how she came to write a book all about it: Fire and Ice. Dr Natalie Starkey (she/her) is an accomplished science communicator and currently an Outreach and Public Engagement Officer for Physical Sciences at The Open University. Natalie’s wo...

In this episode, we talk with Professor Christopher Jackson about the power of TV, media, and public lectures, as outreach tools to engage people from all backgrounds with the geosciences. Join us for a special discussion that takes us to the summit of one of Earth's largest lava lakes! Chris Jackson (he/him/his) is Chair in Sustainable Geoscience at the University of Manchester. Chris works in th...

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Natasha Dowey (she/her) about her journey through the geoscience industry, work as a volcanologist, and the developing of networks to address issues and the future of geoscience and sustainable development. Natasha Dowey is a geoscientist passionate about hazard analysis, geoscience for sustainable development, and equity in geoscience. Her career has taken some twi...

In this episode, Dr. Jeffrey Marlow takes us from the inside of lava lake craters to the bottom of the oceans to tell us about the extreme environments that life can develop AND thrive. Microbes can actually live right next to lava lakes!! Dr. Jeffrey Marlow (he/him) is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Boston University, where his lab studies microorganisms inhabiting some of Earth's most extr...