Connecting volcanoes and people: The role of social scientists at New Zealand’s volcano observatory

Volcanoes are only a cause for concern when they effect people. Ash can affect aviation, agriculture, infrastructure, and human health; near-field hazards cause danger to lives, amongst many other examples. As such, expertise on societal aspects needs to be considered when producing science advice relating to volcanoes. Social scientists often explore the wider context, such as decision-making thresholds, user needs, socio-political situations, and the principles of effective communication.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, the volcanoes are monitored by GNS science through the GeoNet Volcano Monitoring Group (VMG). The VMG comprises multidisciplinary scientists, including social scientists. Social scientists conduct a range of activities relating to volcano monitoring, primarily relating to the provision of science advice. Activities include attending the weekly monitoring meeting and providing advice on ‘business as usual’ communications, co-producing forecasts and informing website articles, engaging with stakeholders during a response, and conducting longer term reviews of the communication during quiescence.

More recently, social scientists have been developing a new spatial data stream based on real-time crowdsourced observations of hazards, impacts, and their responses, informing fieldwork and decision-making. During the Taupō volcanic unrest episode in 2022-23, GNS Science social scientists contributed through all activities listed above, in addition to the application of historical unrest information to forecasts. Hazard maps were also produced, and communication processes evaluated post-unrest. This presentation will describe the various activities undertaken by social scientists, illustrated using the Taupō example, to contribute towards the mitigation of volcanic hazards to society.