Episode 9: Investigating the impact of volcanic eruptions on people, communities, and landscapes

In this episode

In this episode, in discussion with Elin Rhys, Dr Rhian Meara, Senior Lecturer in Geography discusses the eruption of the Eldfell volcano in 1973, on the island of Heimaey, Iceland. The eruption itself is famous as the small town was saved by spraying cold sea water onto approaching lavas.

Although the story of the eruption is well-known to many, the stark realities of life during this unexpected eruption and the on-going impacts 50 years on are often not widely discussed. Interviews, surveys, archival research and field work have allowed some of these stories to be shared, often for the first time in English. Understanding these long-term impacts is essential, not only to support the residents of Heimaey, but also to support others in similar situations such as the residents of Grindavík, south Iceland, who have been driven from their homes after volcanic activity began near the town after an 800 year hiatus.

Dr Rhian Meara is a senior lecturer in the Geography Department at Swansea University. She teaches on a range of subjects from Natural Hazards to Science Communication with a particular focus on teaching through the medium of Welsh.

Dr Meara's has always been fascinated by volcanoes and volcanic eruptions, particularly those in Iceland. While her past research has been on the science and geochemistry of these eruptions, her current work focuses onto socio-volcanology, investigating the impact of volcanic eruptions on people, communities and landscapes.

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