Heather Handley - Volcano Scientist

Heather Handley is a volcanologist and has worked on some of the most active volcanoes on the planet. She is a passionate science communicator with extensive media experience and a champion for equity, diversity and inclusion.

Heather uses the chemistry of volcanic rocks and their minerals to better understand how volcanoes work and what triggers volcanic eruptions in order to reduce volcanic risk. Heather is also interested in people’s perceptions of volcanic risk, and how we can advance our understanding of past volcanic impacts on humans and the environment by integrating volcanological and Indigenous knowledge.

Heather is an Associate Professor of volcanic hazards and geoscience communication at the University of Twente and an Adjunct Associate Professor at Monash University. Heather is a UNESCO Project Leader for IGCP 685 Geology for Sustainable Development.

In 2024, Heather became Co-Leader of the international volcanology association’s (IAVCEI) Commission on Volcanic Geoheritage and Protected Volcanic Landscapes. In her spare time over the last four years, she has been writing a forthcoming book on Australia’s little known but incredibly captivating geological and cultural volcanic heritage.

Heather is driven to communicate the role the critical role of geoscience in our sustainable future. To this endeavour she Co-Founded and is Director of the Earth Futures Festival , a UNESCO-supported international geoscience film festival and is and co-author of the UNESCO-AGU book “Geoscience in Action: Advancing Sustainable Development”. She regularly appears in the media talking about volcanoes, and has featured in TV documentaries for National Geographic, RMC Découverte, SBS Australia, and Discovery Science.

In recognition of her dedication to geoscience outreach, innovation in science communication, and commitment to inclusivity, Heather has been awarded the European Geosciences Union 2025 Katia and Maurice Kraft Award. In 2021 she received the Geological Society of Australia’s Beryl Nashar Award and is a Science and Technology 2021-2022 Australia Superstar of STEM. In 2014, Heather received an Australian Institute of Policy and Science NSW, Young Tall Poppy Award.

Heather strongly advocates for diversity and inclusion. She is Co-Founder and Inaugural President of the Women in Earth and Environmental Sciences Australasia Network (WOMEESA), and champions equity in STEM globally.

Heather holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Geology from The University of Edinburgh and a PhD in Volcano Geochemistry from Durham University in the UK. She was awarded an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship in 2012 to advance our understanding of the timescales of Earth-system processes. Heather was Co-Editor-in-Chief of Earth and Planetary Science Letters from 2019 to 2021 and Governing Councillor of the Geological Society of Australia 2020-2022.