- School of Environmental Sciences
- University of East Anglia
- Norwich
- NR4 7TJ
- UK
- +44 (0)1603 591343
Email: s.crosweller’at’uea.ac.uk
After completing a BSc in Geology and Physical Geography, and a MRes in Environmental Sciences, I am currently in the final stages of my PhD looking at the communication of volcanic risk in the Eastern Caribbean, supervised by Jenni Barclay, Peter Simmons and Irene Lorenzoni from UEA, as well as Richie Robertson, the head of the Seismic Research Unit in Trinidad. This work has been funded jointly between NERC and ESRC.
My research has involved the use of mixed-methodologies (qualitative semi-structured interviews and quantitative surveys) to gain an understanding of the range of existing views in circulation amongst the public in volcanically high risk areas on two Caribbean islands – St Vincent and Dominica. Two islands were chosen in order to determine whether these views differ depending on whether or not there has been recent volcanic activity. Analysis will also involve looking for patterns held by particular social groupings.
The results from this research can be used by the both the responsible scientists and the island governments to tailor their communication and education efforts to better suit the existing ideas held by the islanders, and targeting particular themes that have arisen as potential problems should a volcanic crisis arise.
Research Interests:
• Communication and education of volcanic risk
• How uncertainty of natural systems is communicated by scientists and understood by non-scientists
• Methods of continuing public engagement in low-frequency, high-impact natural events
Affiliation
Core member of SPIDER Network