Volcanoes, Travel, Languages… a Euphoric Scientific Life”

I was a scientist at school, and after A Levels there was never any other path for me but being a scientist. So at university I studied science as an undergraduate, a Master’s student, and ultimately for a PhD. I initially went into Earth Sciences because it was fun, and it gave the opportunity for outdoors work and travel. I stayed in it and finally became an academic because of the challenge, the amazement of discovery, and the deep satisfaction to be found in worthwhile achievements.

This all probably sounds at best implausible. So, in my talk, I will take you on a walk through the highlights of my scientific work and let you judge for yourself. I research in earthquakes, geothermal energy, volcanoes, and what lies inside the Earth at depths of hundreds or thousands of kilometres. I discovered a new volcano, saw Earth’s tectonic plates moving with my own eyes, and measured it using satellites. I set new world standards for ambitious field experiments, and I challenged some of the most deeply ingrained assumptions in the field of Earth Science. Difficult? Yes. Exhausting? Yes. Often bruising? Certainly. Worthwhile? Absolutely!