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Biography

My background is in Geology, with a first degree from the University of Edinburgh and PhD from the University of Bristol. My real passion within geology is Volcanology. My PhD looked at several aspects of the degassing process associated with silicic volcanoes. My first post-doctoral research project in 1996 involved an experimental investigation of the magma storage conditions of the newly erupting Soufriere Hills Volcano and as well as two further post-doctoral positions (Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley and Maitre Assistante at the University of Geneva) I also undertook several periods as a duty scientist at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory. My experiences on Montserrat and elsewhere convinced me of the need for a truly inter-disciplinary approach in order to properly understand volcanic eruptions and mitigate their impact. Since my appointment at UEA in 1999, I have made full use of the rich diversity of researchers at UEA that go beyond the usual realms of geology and collaborate with sedimentologists, atmospheric scientists, geophysicists and social scientists on a variety of different problems relating to volcanic phenomena.

I keep a blog that looks at the way hazards and scientists in general and volcanoes in particular appear in other walks of life. It can be found here: https://sciencemimicsart.wordpress.com/

I also have a twitter account @VolcanoJenni; all views are my own not those of the university.

PhD Positions

Click here for current PhD opportunities in the School of Environmental Sciences. However, feel free to email me to discuss projects outside these areas and alternative sources of funding.

Key Research Interests

All aspects of volcanology from the communication of hazards associated with volcanic eruptions to the ways in which magma is stored prior to eruption. Current research includes: volcanic risk reduction (Caribbean, Ecuador and Colombia); the interaction between rainfall and volcanic activity (both lahars and primary activity); pre-eruptive storage conditions and its impact on volcanic behaviour ; the communication of volcanic hazards in the Caribbean and the volcanic history and hazards of the Ascension Islands.
 
 
I am currently the Principle Investigator for two projects: (i) the ESRC-NERC funded ‘Strengthening Resilience to Volcanic Hazards’ STREVA Project. The link can be found here: www.streva.ac.uk and (ii) a new Leverhulme Funded Project focussed on understanding volcanism on Ascension Islands: Ascension Project Website

 Some Recent Publications (direct links to #OA publications)

• Preece, K., Gertisser, R., Barclay, J., Berlo, K., Herd, R. (2014) Pre- and syn-eruptive degassing and crystallisation processes of the 2010 and 2006 eruptions of Merapi volcano, Indonesia in Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 168.

• Stone, J., Barclay, J., Simmons, P., Cole, P. D., Loughlin, S. C., Ramon, P., Mothes, P. (2014) Risk reduction through community-based monitoring: the vigías of Tungurahua, Ecuador, Journal of Applied Volcanology,3,11

• Plail, M. Barclay, J., Edmonds, M. Humphreys, M.C.S. and Herd, R.A. (2014). Chapter 18 Characterisation of mafic enclaves in the erupted products of Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat 1995-2010. Geol Soc. Memoir The Eruption of Soufriere Hills Volcano 2000-2010. Eds. Wadge, G., Robertson, R.E.A and Voight, B. 39:343-360, doi:10.1144/M39.18

• Hicks, A., Barclay, J., Simmons, P., Loughlin, S. (2014) An interdisciplinary approach to volcanic risk reduction under conditions of uncertainty : A case study of Tristan da Cunha Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences (NHESS) 14. pp. 1871-1887

• Preece, K.J., Barclay, J., Gertisser, R. and Herd, R.A. (2013) Textural and micro-petrological variations in the eruptive products of the 2006 dome-forming eruption of Merapi volcano, Indonesia: implications for sub-surface processes. Journal Volcano Geotherm. Res. Special Issue, doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2013.02.006

• Hicks, A., Barclay, J., Mark, D.F. and Loughlin, S. (2012) Tristan da Cunha: constraining eruptive behaviour using the 40Ar/39Ar dating technique. Geology, 40(8), 723-726

Publications: EPrints Digital Repository

Research Group Membership

Teaching Interests

• I teach on:

• ENV4005A Dynamic Planet
• ENV 5018A Global Tectonics
• ENV 5030B Earth Science Skills
• ENV 3A57K Geosciences Fieldcourse to Greece

External Activities and Indicators of Esteem

• Policy Contributions:
• 2011 - present Scientific Advisor to the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Montserrat)
• 2011-2012 Contributor to UK Government Foresight project on ‘Anticipating disasters’
• Honorary Appointments and Editorships:
• 2011- present Member of Editorial Board of Journal of Applied Volcanology (Springer)
• 2010- 2014 Member of External Advisory Board for NSF Infrastructure Project (Vhub)
• 2011-2015 Member of External Advisory Board for EU FP7 Project (VUELCO)
• 2011- 2015 External Examiner University College London, Masters in Geophysical Hazards

• Science, Impact and Engagement

• I'm currently involved in a number of projects designed to increase the impact of the research that I do, particularly in the field of volcanic risk reduction. STREVA Project runs some engagement projects in its own right but particularly at the moment I am working on the LondonVolcano and Volcanoes Top Trumps with colleagues at the Universities of Oxford and Plymouth.
•  Past Science Outreach:
• 2013 UEA 50th Birthday celebrations outreach lead scientist ‘Norfolk’s Firework volcano’
• 2012 Contributor to BBC2’s Volcano Live
• 2011 Participant in UEA Outreach initiative to pre-GCSE students in ‘hard to reach’ schools
• 2010 UEA ‘Saturday morning science’
• 2009-present Various outreach activities to primary school age children in volcanology and geology
• 2006 Co-organiser and co-author of the ‘Beer Today, Champagne Tomorrow’ play for the BA Festival of Science, Norwich, Sept 2006. Explored the link between local geology, soil science and agriculture within the context of climate change [BBSRC ‘Public Understanding of Science’ Grant ]
• 2001 UEA Christmas Lecture for children
• Contributor to Articles in: New Scientist, Planet Earth, Scotsman. Radio program appearances: BBC Radio Essex, Norfolk, Radio 4 and Radio Montserrat.