Heather Handley is a volcanologist and geochemist and has worked on some of the most active volcanoes on the planet. She 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 an Associate Professor at the University of Twente, an Adjunct Associate Professor at Monash University, Honorary Associate Professor at Macquarie University and Governing Councilor of the Geological Society of Australia. Heather was Co-Editor-in-Chief of Earth and Planetary Science Letters from 2019 to 2021.
Heather is driven to communicate the critical role of geoscience in our sustainable future. She is Co-Founder and Director of the Earth Futures Festival , an international film and video festival taking place in September and October 2022.
Heather is a Science and Technology Australia 2021-2022 Superstar of STEM and passionate science communicator. She has led and participated in over 70 geoscience outreach events and workshops. She frequently writes for The Conversation and has given more than 80 television, radio and print interviews on volcanoes. Heather has featured in documentaries for National Geographic and Discovery Science and is currently writing a popular science and history book on Australia’s Volcanoes for CSIRO Publishing.
Heather strongly advocates for Women in STEM, diversity and inclusion and is Co-Founder and Inaugural President of the Women in Earth and Environmental Science Australasia (WOMEESA) Network.