Dr Rebecca Williams
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volcanologist.bsky.social
Dr Rebecca Williams
@volcanologist.bsky.social

Reader in Volcanology in Geology @Hull. Waffle about volcanoes, HigherEd, tea and occasional running. SFHEA & STEM ambassador. She/her.

Sociology 22%
Public Health 15%
Pinned
It's about time I announced a project that I've been working on in the last year... I wrote a book!

'Volcanoes: 10 things you should know' published by @orionbooks.bsky.social Seven Dials will be out in September. It's available to pre-order now. Links: linktr.ee/volcanologist

Reposted by Rebecca Williams

Are you a #teacher looking for training opportunities in #geosciences or seeking #financial assistance for events that promote geoscience #education?

Apply now for the 2026 Field School for Teachers and Geoscience Education Event!
📆 31 December 2025: egu.eu/96EKUA

📸 Ole Zeising on #imaggeo

Reposted by Rebecca Williams

*This* is what the people of Pompeii, and Herculaneum, and many other hapless souls saw—this is what a pyroclastic density current looks coming RIGHT at you.

Filmed from a CCTV camera during the Mount Semeru eruption on Java, Indonesia on 4 December 2022.

Video credit: PT United Tractors Tbk
I have three copies of Climate Champions by @rachelsarah.bsky.social to give away! I bought a bunch when they came out (I’m in it). This book, targeted at middle and high schoolers, features biographies of a diversity of women working on climate action across disciplines.

Reposted by Rebecca Williams

Good morning! 🪶

Oh goodness, that's a worrying sign.

We were frustrated that we were only told about it when the school itself was quite far along in the process. But they argued that they wanted to do the due diligence first before presenting it to parents.

Again, I think we're lucky it went the way it did.

Yeah, I talked to someone who is on this field and they gave it a ✔️

bsky.app/profile/volc...

Hot cloudy apple with a splash of the ginger cordial?! 🤔

We weren't as organised as it sounds you all are. Our consultation was very much after the decision had been made. But I think ultimately we got lucky in that the school had done a lot of research themselves and the Academy it joined was a good one. It's been positive so far - we've seen no change.

I can't find the research I did. But if helpful, this is the list of questions I compiled. I had loads of help from EduTwitter and teacher friends on Facebook. docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Questions I prepped for academisation meeting
What is the driver of this when studies show that there is no positive educational impact for children attending MATs, that pupils in larger chains do worse and that  for high performing schools their...
docs.google.com

Oh we went through this a year or so ago. I did loads of research and we interrogated the Academy CEO/Head.

I found that it's less about academisation vs not. And more about the specific academy. So much variation in approach and quality.

This is wonderful

Reposted by Rebecca Williams

There’s still time to step into a leadership role in geoscience publishing! GSA is seeking science editors, associate editors & editorial board members to help guide the next wave of research. Build experience, expand your network, and shape your field.

Explore openings: geosociety.co/GSAEditors

Reposted by Rebecca Williams

The latest Eruptions newsletter is out! This week I talk about the Hayli Gubbi eruption, new activity at Puracé in Colombia, some candidates for volcanoes that may have started the cascades of events leading to the Black Death and Bob & Doug McKenzie: eruptions.beehiiv.com/p/eruptions-...
Eruptions Newsletter #24 for December 5, 2025
The aftermath of the Hayli Gubbi eruption, volcanoes may have triggered the Black Death in Europe and a beer in a tree.
eruptions.beehiiv.com

Reposted by Rebecca Williams

‘Incredible’ carved canoe dates back to first settlement of islands near New Zealand | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti... 🧪
‘Incredible’ carved canoe dates back to first settlement of islands near New Zealand
Fibers found on waka in Chatham Islands roughly align in age with earliest known human arrival
www.science.org

Reposted by Rebecca Williams

Does any other country hold huge nationally-recognised celebration for geologists?

Reposted by Rebecca Williams

Happy Barbórka, the Polish traditional celebration of workers in the mining & geological industries 🇵🇱⚒️

The celebration come with a traditional uniform, with feathered hat and sword.

Reposted by Rebecca Williams

@agu.org, I'm afraid that attendees need some clarity on how this ICE deployment is affecting the meeting. Many int'l colleagues and students are flying in and spending time in the city. Should they all switch to online? Will registration be refunded? How will they be protected?

😲😫

Reposted by Rebecca Williams

Update from KQED about the earthquake "false alarm" this morning

www.kqed.org/news/1206608...

I despair.

We are still waiting for information regarding what caused the false Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) alert that went out to CA and NV this morning.

While we’re waiting it’s worth mentioning that there is a trade-off between speed and accuracy and when it comes to earthquakes, seconds matter. 1/
There was an earthquake alert that went out this morning for a M5.9 near Reno, NV. This was a false alarm. There was no earthquake.

The USGS is working to identify the issue.

More soon.

This has been fascinating to see play out this evening.

A false alarm and some hard to interpret data.

Early warning systems and infrastructure remain critical.
Picture 1 is signal of something that is ~240 km away (if it's an earthquake). 2 is signal of a non-seismic/non-explosive source (nearby machine oscillating at ~15-ish Hz). 3 is noise/no signal at all. 4 is local signal of non-seismic/non-explosive source.

Reposted by Rebecca Williams

We are still waiting for information regarding what caused the false Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) alert that went out to CA and NV this morning.

While we’re waiting it’s worth mentioning that there is a trade-off between speed and accuracy and when it comes to earthquakes, seconds matter. 1/
There was an earthquake alert that went out this morning for a M5.9 near Reno, NV. This was a false alarm. There was no earthquake.

The USGS is working to identify the issue.

More soon.

Reposted by Rebecca Williams

Picture 1 is signal of something that is ~240 km away (if it's an earthquake). 2 is signal of a non-seismic/non-explosive source (nearby machine oscillating at ~15-ish Hz). 3 is noise/no signal at all. 4 is local signal of non-seismic/non-explosive source.

Reposted by Rebecca Williams

I haven't had a chance to deep-dive on data, but for folks wondering if the deleted earthquake was a bomb detonation, @drwendyrocks.bsky.social made a video with @earthscope.org a few years back that explains how seismologists can differentiate between the two.
youtu.be/BwxVDaUrsEU?...

1

This is oldish news in the industry apparently (Sept 🤣) and seems legit. Verified by other models.

www.thinkgeoenergy.com/zanskar-vali...
Zanskar validates AI-based discovery method with drilling at Pumpernickel geothermal site, Nevada
Zanskar has drilled a 137 °C geothermal well at 760 meters depth at the Pumpernickel site in Nevada, further validating their AI-based discovery tools.
www.thinkgeoenergy.com
Final Registration for the VMSG Annual Meeting 2026 is fast approaching. Abstract deadline has been extended until Friday 8 Dec. We aim to inform registrants of their presentation type (talk/poster) & time slot by 12 Dec.
We look forward to welcoming you all to Southampton!
UKRI exploring use of AI in grant review - this will prompt debate but interested to know if people think it’d encourage novelty or the opposite? www.chemistryworld.com/news/ukri-op...
UKRI opens up grant proposal data to explore using AI to smooth peer review
Surging applications has led the UK's main funder to look at ways to reduce the burden on reviewers
www.chemistryworld.com

Reposted by Rebecca Williams

Did you know it's nomination time for Royal Society medals? royalsociety.org/medals-and-p...
And did you also know that there's 1 for EDI & for scientific communication?

One of my proudest moments was being awarded the Athena prize for the LGBTQ+STEMinar. So if you think you deserve it, get on it.
Medals and awards | Royal Society
The Royal Society’s prestigious medals and awards programme recognises and celebrates outstanding contributions to science from individuals and teams.
royalsociety.org