Biography:
Dr. Heather Handley (Chair) is an Associate Professor of Volcanology and Geochemistry at Macquarie University. She is a Science and Technology Australia 2021-2022 Superstar of STEM. Heather’s current research interests include the integration of Indigenous oral knowledge with volcanological and geochronological knowledge to advance our understanding of prehistoric volcanic eruptions and their impacts in Australasia. Heather is Co-Founder and President of the Women in Earth and Environmental Sciences Australasia Network (WOMEESA). She received an AIPS NSW Young Tall Poppy Award in 2014 and has led more than 40 outreach events and workshops including mentoring in the Waranara Mentoring Program for high achieving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander undergraduate students. Heather frequently writes for The Conversation, has given over 60 television, radio and print interviews on volcanoes and she has featured in documentaries for National Geographic and Discovery Channel Science.