Dr Rebecca Williams

Reader in Volcanology

+44 (0)1482 465578 | Rebecca.Williams@hull.ac.uk

Faculty and Department

Faculty of Science and Engineering
School of Environmental Sciences

Biography Teaching Outputs Research/PhD Recognition

Summary

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

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 within University of Hull.

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

Rebecca teaches across the Geology and Geography degree programmes, in particular on the Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology, Geohazards and Volcanoes and their Hazards modules.

Recent outputs

View more outputs

Journal Article

The Equator Project Research School and Mentoring Network: Evaluated Interventions to Improve Equity in Geoscience Research

Dowey, N., Lawrence, A., Raji, M., Jackson, C., Williams, R., Fernando, B., Giles, S., Barclay, J., Brotherson, L., Childs, E., Houghton, J., Khatwa, A., Mills, K., Jameson, G., Rockey, F., Rogers, S., & Souch, C. (2024). The Equator Project Research School and Mentoring Network: Evaluated Interventions to Improve Equity in Geoscience Research. Earth Science, Systems and Society, 4, Article 10123. https://doi.org/10.3389/esss.2024.10123

Cohesional behaviours in pyroclastic material and the implications for deposit architecture

Walding, N., Williams, R., Rowley, P., & Dowey, N. (2023). Cohesional behaviours in pyroclastic material and the implications for deposit architecture. Bulletin of volcanology, 85(11), Article 67. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-023-01682-9

Nemi Walding

Anatomy of a volcanic eruption undersea

Williams, R., & Rowley, P. (2023). Anatomy of a volcanic eruption undersea. Science, 381(6662), 1046-1047. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adk0181

Strategies for making geoscience PhD recruitment more equitable

Fernando, B., Giles, S., Jackson, C., Lawrence, A., Raji, M., Williams, R., Barclay, J., Brotherson, L., Childs, E., Houghton, J., Khatwa, A., Newton, A., Mills, K., Rockey, F., Rogers, S., Souch, C., & Dowey, N. (2023). Strategies for making geoscience PhD recruitment more equitable. Nature Geoscience, 16(8), 658-660. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-023-01241-z

Newspaper / Magazine

Decolonising UK Earth Science

Williams, R., Mills, K., & Lawrence, A. (2024). Decolonising UK Earth Science

Research interests

NERC Natural Environment Research Council

Grant

£12,296.00

Started

1 March 2024

Status

Complete

Postgraduate supervision

Rebecca is the PI of the Catastrophic Flows Research Cluster and the Hull-lead of the NERC Panorama DTP. Rebecca welcomes PhD applications in volcanic flows, igneous petrology, modelling volcanic processes, volcanic stratigraphy (including tephrostratigraphy) and historical/social/cultural volcanology. Also on the history of Earth Science, and EDI in Earth Science.

Current PhD students:

Chenery, J. Can you stop a PDC? Assessing the impact of natural and engineered topographic barriers on pyroclastic density currents.

Walding, N. The PDC flow units problem: Deposit heterogeneity from varying cohesive behavior and sediment flux

Completed PhDs:

Chen, Y, 2021. Submarine Channel Knickpoints and Bedforms. University of Hull.

Smith, G, 2021. Propagation of aerated pyroclastic density current analogues: flow behaviour and the formation of bedforms and deposits. University of Hull.

Scarlett, J, 2020. Coexisting with volcanoes : the relationships between La Soufrière and the society of St. Vincent, Lesser Antilles. University of Hull.

Jordan N, 2015. Pre-Green Tuff explosive eruptive history, petrogenesis and proximal-distal tephra correlations of a peralkaline caldera volcano, Pantelleria, Italy. University of Leicester.

MSc By Thesis (Research) students

Current:

Malon, C. Ashy Isotopes: Resolving the Pantescan tephrostratigraphy using trace elements and isotopes.

Gingell, L. Is waxing and waning in pyroclastic density currents

recorded as reverse grading in ignimbrites?

Completed:

Jones, E. 2023. Lost in Translation? Exploring the journey from press releases to news articles during volcanic crises, and its impact on perceptions

Johnston, T. 2022. How does grain size distribution impact the mobility and deposition of analogue pyroclastic density currents?

Johnson, M. 2022. Characterisation of reverse grading in ignimbrites through image analysis and experimental granular currents

Peck, A. Who is the hashtag for? An analysis of social media use during the Agung VolcanoCrisis

Awards and prizes

British Science Assoication Charles Lyell Award

2017 - 2017

Charity role

Committee Member of Geological Society of London External Relations Committee

2021

Committee/Steering group role

QAA Earth Science, Environmental Sciences and Environmental Studies Subject Benchmark Statement Advisory Board.

2021 - 2022

Chair of Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity Working Group.

University Geoscience UK Executive

2016

EDI Portfolio

Funder panel member

NERC Peer Review College Member

2023

NERC IRF Review Panel

2022

Honorary position

Honorary Research Position, University of Nairobi

2021 - 2022

Journal editorial role

EarthArXiv Advisory Council

2017 - 2022

Volcanica Editorial Committee

2017

Geology Editorial Board

2015 - 2019

Membership/Fellowship of professional body

Senior Fellow of the HEA

2015

British Society for Geomorphology

2013

European Geosciences Union

2008

International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior

2008

Mineralogical Society

2006

Volcanic and Magmatic Studies Group

2006

Committee member 2010-2015);

National/International learned society/body role

Chair of Commission on Volcanogenic Sediments (IAVCEI)

2023

Co-Lead of the Commission on Volcanogenic Sediments for IAVCEI

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Faculty and Department

Related groups

Summary

Recent outputs

Journal Article

Newspaper / Magazine

Research interests

Lead investigator

Extension of Decolonising UK Earth Science Pedagogy

FIAMME: (An international collaboration for a) Framework for Ignimbrite Analysis Methodologies for Modelling and hazard Evaluation

QR-GCRF 20.21.PPF13 - Strengthening Geoscience Education for Sustainable Development in Kenya

Decolonising UK Earth Science pedagogy - from the hidden histories of our geological institutions to inclusive curricula

GeoCoLab

Building solid ground for racial diversity in Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences postgraduate research

SmartLapilli - Royal Society International Exchange

International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 396 Moratorium Award

Postgraduate supervision

Awards and prizes

Charity role

Committee/Steering group role

Funder panel member

Honorary position

Journal editorial role

Membership/Fellowship of professional body

National/International learned society/body role

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