The International Association for Volcanology and Chemistry
of the Earth’s Interior (IAVCEI), as the representative international
association of scientists working on volcanic hazard
evaluations and risk mitigation, promotes sustained open discussion
within the scientific community of many relevant issues,
including the following:
& how to best understand and forecast volcanic activity, the
associated hazards, and contribute to risk evaluations;
& the appropriate roles and responsibilities of scientists prior
to, during, and after crises;
& the nature of scientists’ relationships with government authorities,
populations at risk, and the media;
& the manner and extent of involvement of scientists in processes
that eventually lead authorities to make decisions,
the extent of the liability or vulnerability of scientists to
the outcomes of these decisions, and the way that scientists’
input may be perceived and judged by others;
& the role of national and local culture and perception of risk
in both mitigation policy and communication of hazard
and risk;
& the effectiveness of descriptions of forecasted volcanic
phenomena and associated hazards, and of their related
uncertainties;
& how to best increase the awareness, preparedness and empowerment
of individuals, and society as a whole, in order
to reduce the impact of volcanic phenomena on society
In particular, IAVCEI, as a modern learned society wants to
offer through its media (e.g., its website, archives, documents,
recommendation notes) informative material, which can help
members and others to fulfill these roles and responsibilities.
In particular, scientists have a role in protecting populations
and societies from harm due to volcanic phenomena, within
the context of, and being cognizant of, diverse cultural needs
and settings.
Furthermore, IAVCEI wants to develop frameworks within
which relationships and communication with local communities,
media, and authorities can be fostered and improve