She said: “My research examined how, at the time of each of these volcanic events, Saint Vincent was in the middle of a major societal challenge.
“In 1812, the island was at the centre of the slave trade, and then fast-forward to 1979 and the eruption took place around six months before St Vincent gained independence from Britain.
“These were really unique periods in the island’s history, and each of these social issues had an impact on how communities responded to, and documented, the eruptions.”
Dr Scarlett, whose family originates from Saint Vincent, said while searching for archive material relating to the 1812 eruption, the only voices she could find belonged to white males.
“There are virtually no accounts from any women, children, enslaved person or native people from that period,” she said.