The study of one of the most intensely fascinating phenomena of the natural world, volcanology is as rich an area in academic study as it is in the geological, geophysical and geochemical data that these displays of nature’s raw power hide beneath their fragile surfaces. We’re delighted that John Maclennan will be sharing knowledge of the processes and impacts of volcanism during this year’s Alumni Festival. 

John undertakes research helping to build understanding of the dynamic and violent processes that occur in the roots of Icelandic volcanoes. Much of this effort has centred on careful fieldwork and collection of suitable samples for geochemical analyses of what happens deep beneath these ruptures in the earth’s crust, in particular making extensive use of electron microscopy and high performance computing facilities to measure the time taken for magma to rise from its deep storage zones before eruption.