Dr Rebecca Williams

Rebecca is currently an Honorary Professor at the University of Hull and a Professor of Volcanology at the University of Loughborough.

Rebecca was the Director of Research for the School of Environmental Sciences, the Hull-lead of the NERC Panorama DTP and a university Open Research Champion.

Rebecca is an Earth Scientist who takes an interdisciplinary approach to volcano research. Rebecca's research focusses on volcano-stratigraphy and hazardous volcanic flows (pyroclastic density currents and lahars), social-historical volcanology, and the communication of volcano science. All this drives towards understanding how communities may be affected by volcanic eruptions past, present and future.

An expert on equality, diversity and inclusivity in curriculum design. Rebecca's research in this area seeks to understand the links between the colonial legacy of Earth Science, the pedagogy of our discipline and inequities in the access, retention and success of diverse student cohorts. Rebecca's practice in this arena seeks to effect positive change in Higher Education, with a particular focus on the Earth Sciences across the sector, and across disciplines and faculties.

Rebecca is a dedicated science communicator, appearing on international radio, news and television.

Rebecca was the Associate Dean for Student Experience, Faculty of Science and Engineering, from 2019-2023