Katerina Liontou

Project: Public perceptions of Volcanism and Atmospheric Change, 1783-2010

The purpose of this project is to bring together the environmental humanities and social sciences in an attempt to explore public perceptions of volcanism and atmospheric change. To do so, I have focused my research on the Mt Laki eruption (1783) and the Eyjafjallajökull eruption (2010) as two major events which had both discursive and material implications.  Sharing insights from both disciplines, I am interested in examining the intersection of cultural studies and the social sciences and particularly how literature can enhance the public’s understanding of natural phenomena, like volcanoes and atmospheric changes, and enhance preparedness for potentially catastrophic events.