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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 Anjana Khatwa (She/Her/Hers) is an award-winning earth scientist who has worked for several universities, the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and the National Trust. Dr Khatwa has contributed to and presented TV programmes for the BBC as well as ITV. She has been given the Geographical Award for public engagement by the Royal Geographical Society, the RH Worth Award by the Geological Society of London and the Halstead Medal from the Geologists’ Association. In 2021, she received a National Diversity Award in recognition of her work to champion inclusion within earth science and natural heritage and the same year was longlisted for the 2021 Nan Shepherd Prize for nature writing. She lives with her family in Dorset in a house filled with rocks and fossils collected from all over the world. The Whispers of Rock is her first book.
Author of The Whispers of Rock: Stories from the Earth
Released 4th September 2025 (UK) and 4th November 2025 (USA)https://geoscientist.online/sections/books-and-arts/whispers-of-rock-stories-from-earth/tiktok @jurassicg1rl
instagram @anjanakhatwa
Bluesky @anjanakhatwa
Youtube @dranjanakhatwa
website www.anjanakhatwa.com
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 incredible active volcanic landscape and passing that knowledge onto the many thousands who visit the National Park every single year.
There is an incredible variety of geology, volcanic landforms, hydrothermal activity, culture, history, and wildlife with the park and Shanda takes us through all of it, with some incredible insights into the daily life and her responsibilities as an Interpretive Park Ranger. We hope this episode will leave you wanting to pack your bags to go and explore Lassen one day, or to even return (I know I want to...)!
Here's another conversation with Shanda: Learn more
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 research focuses on volcanoes, particularly those that are currently active. Her major research goal is to make robust estimates of the timescales of volcanic eruptions and thereby improve forecasting of future eruptions and their impact on society. She leads development in analytical techniques that push the boundaries of extracting time-related information from single minerals at the micron-scale. She uses the rocks erupted during volcanic eruptions to unravel the hidden processes inside the volcano, as a psychologist explores the human mind.
Instagram - @chiara.petrone.1
Linkedin - Chiara Maria Petrone
Webpage - NHM Mineral and Planetary Sciences
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 scientist with a PhD in volcanology from Durham University, where her love for turning complex science into visual stories first began. She specialises in illustrating Earth science research, but her freelance work spans a wide range of fields, including cardiology, neuroscience, immunology, physics, and bioengineering.
Annabelle has travelled far and wide to study volcanoes up close. Her doctoral research focused on an obsidian-rich volcanic ridge in Iceland, where she investigated how obsidian can form from sintered volcanic ash, not just from rapidly cooling lava!
Based in North Yorkshire, she works with clients around the world and is dedicated to making science more accessible, visual, and inspiring. Her illustrations have appeared in academic journals, education resources, public engagement projects, and international conferences.
Website: www.annabellefoster.com
Instagram: @geology_talk
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 seven volcanoes. You won't believe how different each of these are!
Ricardo Kaljouw, born on May 22, 1986, in Vlissingen, Netherlands, is a distinguished Dutch alpinist and military veteran. He is known for his achievements in mountaineering, particularly for completing the Volcanic Seven Summits challenge. This feat, which involves climbing the highest volcanic peaks across all seven continents, was capped by his historic summit of Mount Sidley in Antarctica in February 2025, making him the first Dutchman to complete this challenging endeavor. He is also ranked as number 50 in the world to have completed the Volcanic Seven Summits.
Beyond his accomplishments in climbing, Kaljouw is a veteran of the Dutch Armed Forces, having served in multiple military missions. His experience in the military has shaped his approach to both mountaineering and life, instilling a sense of discipline, resilience, and determination that has propelled him through extreme challenges.
Kaljouw has climbed over 50 high-elevation volcanoes around the world, some of which are still active. His passion for volcanic exploration goes beyond the summits, as he actively shares his experiences through various platforms. Engaging with a community of fellow explorers, he teaches newcomers about the fascinating world of volcanoes.
Website: https://sevenvolcanicsummits.com/
Instagram: @sevenvolcanicsummits
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 (he/him) is a nature illustrator, writer and educator based in Scotland. He works at the intersection of art and science, exploring the interconnectedness of the natural world as well as our relationship with it. Vojta studied Geology and Physical Geography at The University of Edinburgh and found his way into illustration when doing field sketches. He began communicating geology through art on Instagram as 'Rocks on Paper' in 2021. Since then, Vojta's practice has grown to include all parts of nature and he has worked on science communication and creative projects with National Museums Scotland, Dynamic Earth, The University of Edinburgh and The Nature Library.
Socials and links:
Instagram: @vojta.illustrates
BlueSky: @vojtahybl.com
Website and shop: vojtahybl.com
Newsletter: https://vojtahybl.com/subscribe
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 of Science degree from University of Florida, completing an honors thesis on mid-ocean ridge volcanism before working as a laboratory technician at the Alaska Volcano Observatory. They now research the evolution of plagioclase ultraphyric basalts in Iceland as a part of their PhD. Denali is very active in science communication and outreach and currently run three different social media accounts focused on increasing public knowledge of geoscience and encouraging young students to pursue a career in the Earth sciences, and promoting equality in STEM as a whole.
All socials are under @dykanite:
Instagram , Tiktok, Youtube , Bluesky, Facebook
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/her) to explore what Scotland has to offer as a geo-teaching paradise, and also Luisa's role a geological tour guide. Enjoy, and maybe sign up for one of Luisa's tours if you're ever in the neighbourhood!
Luisa Hendry, known online as @scottishgeologist, is a Scottish geologist and science communicator renowned for her engaging educational content on Scotland’s geology. She graduated from the University of Glasgow with a Bachelor of Science in Earth Science (Geology) in 2015.
After graduation, Luisa worked as a Senior Engineering Geologist within the engineering sector. In 2023, she began creating educational videos on TikTok and Instagram, sharing her passion for rocks and geological formations. Her authentic and accessible approach quickly earned her a substantial following with over 500K across all her social media accounts.
Building on her online success, Luisa founded “Scot Rock Walks – Geology Tours Ltd” in March 2024, offering guided geology tours across Scotland to educate the public about the nation’s rich geological heritage. She also delivers workshops and educational talks through “Scot Rock Talks,” aiming to inspire future generations of geologists.
Luisa’s contributions have significantly raised public awareness and appreciation of geology, particularly Scotland’s diverse geological landscapes. Her work exemplifies how passion and modern communication platforms can effectively promote science education.
Socials:
IG – https://www.instagram.com/scottishgeologist/?hl=en
FB – https://www.facebook.com/scottishgeologist/?locale=en_GB
YT – https://www.youtube.com/@Sco ttishgeologist
Threads – https://www.threads.com/@scottishgeologist
TT - https://www.tiktok.com/@scottishgeologist?lang=en
X – https://x.com/scotgeologist?lang=en
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 of communication and the Canary Islands. We set up GeoTenerife over a decade ago to provide quality learning experiences for international students and showcase these dramatic volcanic islands in the Atlantic we are so passionate about. We have evolved into a science training and research company, collaborating with a range of local, national and international institutions and experts, running field trips and training camps.
We make all of our research output freely available online via our project VolcanoStories. We focus on the three hot issues where we believe change is most needed: La Palma and the response to the 2021 eruption and reconstruction; volcanic readiness in the Canary Islands and sustainable tourism. We self-funded Lava Bombs, a film about the impacts of the 2021 eruption in Cumbre Vieja, to enable the lessons learned here to travel far and wide to advocate for change in the face of any future event. Shortly we will release Lava Bombs 2 on the reconstruction.
As a communicator, I strive to forge communication links between the key stakeholders: politicians, scientists, emergency managers, residents and the press. We all speak and hear differently, and it's vital to ensure messaging is helpful, particularly in times of crisis. We run free courses and events for residents, and interactive sessions where they can meet and question decisionmakers.
We were at IAVCEI in New Zealand to show and run a panel discussion on Lava Bombs and will run various sessions at COV12 to bring all those voices to stakeholders in Guatemala and the wider community. The topics we tackle are emotive and difficult, but we advocate for constructive discussion and listening to ensure all viewpoints are respected and strive for change where necessary. All our training courses include a SciComm training element. Science is at its best when it's unlocked from closed academic circles at the service of the people. We empower our students to go out into the world and communicate effectively across boundaries.
Website: www.geotenerife.com
VolcanoStories: https://geotenerife.com/volcanostories/
Socials - Instagram, X, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok: @GeoTenerife
Lava Bombs:www.lavabombsfilm.com
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 Geology at College of the Desert. Edith’s area of expertise is volcanics and geochronology. Professor Rojas is a dynamic force in the geology field nestled in the picturesque Coachella Valley. As a passionate Latina Immigrant, professor Rojas brings a unique perspective to her role, infusing her love for science with a commitment to diversity and accessibility. Her dedication extends beyond the classroom as she engages in science communication initiatives, striving to break down barriers and make STEM fields more inclusive.
Instagram: @Latina_geologist
X: @LatinaGeologist
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 Professor Volcanic Hazards and Geoscience Communication, University of Twente and Adjunct Associate Professor Monash University. Heather’s research takes a multidisciplinary approach to better understand how volcanoes work in order to reduce the risk from volcanic hazards. She is Co-Founder of the Earth Futures Festival, an international film and video festival uniting the arts and science to showcase the role of geoscience in sustainable development. Heather strongly advocates for Women in STEM, diversity and inclusion and is Co-Founder and Inaugural President of the Women in Earth and Environmental Science Australasia (@WOMEESA) Network. In her spare time she is writing a book on Australia’s little known but absolutely amazing volcanoes.
Twitter: @heatherkhandley @FacultyITC @MonashEAE
Website: https://www.heatherhandley.com/
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 of Leicester. His project focuses on using geochemistry to correlate ancient caldera-forming pyroclastic flow deposits and determine their source vent location within the English Lake District. Additionally, Ed investigates geology within popular video games and how they could be used as an educational tool. Twitter - @The_Volcano_Guy
Blue Sky - @thevolcanoguy
Website – www.volcanoguyblogs.com
Dr Jazmin Scarlett (she/her) is a Flood Resilience Officer, involved helping communities prepare, respond and recover from flooding, maintenance of the flood warning service and reviewing flood alert and warning thresholds and assisting the Area Incident Team in emergency management. BlueSky - @grumpyvolcano.bsky.social
Video Games and volcanoes:
Paper - https://gc.copernicus.org/articles/4/11/2021/
Blogpost - https://phdvolcanology.wordpress.com/tag/videogame/
Paper - https://gc.copernicus.org/articles/5/325/2022/
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 a lot of interest in Natural Hazards (particularly volcanic hazards) and how to mitigate their negative impact on vulnerable populations. My inspirations for this career path were the eruptions at Nevado del Ruiz in 1985 and Heimaey in 1973. In recent years, I have been mostly involved in research and teaching at High School level here in Iceland. I am currently on a slightly different path but aiming at, eventually, making my way into Civil Protection. IG: @gordo21is
Twitter: @gordo21_Island
ResearchGate: Jorge Montalvo-Jónsson
LinkedIn: Jorge Montalvo
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 volcanologist. Since I had spent lots of my childhood inside the Pululahua crater, I wrote both my bachelor's and my master's theses about this volcanic complex. Two years after obtaining a MSc in Volcanology at the University of Bristol, in 2022, I finally got the job I had been aiming for at IG-EPN and now work on monitoring and analyzing volcanic ash.
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anais-Vasconez-Mueller
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 the communication of science. In particular, she is interested in improving the communication of hazard and risk before, during and after rapid onset geologic hazards like earthquakes.
Website: https://drwendybohon.com/
Socials: @DrWendyRocks
TikTok: @Dr.WendyRocksIt
Dr. Beth Bartel (she/her) is a social volcanologist and studies communication and decision-making processes for risk reduction in response to natural hazards. She specializes in volcanoes and the people who live and work around them. Her favorite plate boundary is a subduction zone! Website: https://bethbartel.com/
Socials: @EatTheCrust
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 reduction in Caribbean Societies. She has spent the last 15 years supporting communities living with geo-hazards through projects with regional development agencies and collaborators towards the implementation of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction strategies.
Her focus has also been on improving science communication, building community engagement and participation. Monique is currently exploring interdisciplinary and participatory methods to improve understanding of how Afro-indigenous communities navigate risk at the intersection of the socio-political, geological and ecological landscapes.
Changing landscapes: Instagram @changinglandscapessvg https://www.youtube.com/@changinglandscapessvg
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, the New York Times, Quanta Magazine, National Geographic, Scientific American, the Washington Post, Vox, and many others.
In 2022, he was awarded the EGU’s Angela Croome Award for continued excellence in science journalism and the AGU’s David Perlman Award for Excellence in Science Writing—News. He is the author of two books: Super Volcanoes (2021) and the upcoming How to Kill An Asteroid (2024). He lives in London, UK.
Website: https://robingeorgeandrews.com/
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 volcanoes interact across nature, culture and society, hosted by volcanologist Samuel Mitchell and produced by science presenter Huw James.
Every week will feature a new guest exploring their unique work and experiences with volcanoes all around our planet and beyond!
You can find out more information about VolcaKnowledge through our website: https://www.volcaknowledge.com/
And get to know more about Sam and Huw through their websites: https://www.smitchellscience.com/ and https://www.huwjames.com/