Volcanoes Downunder

Jul 22, 2022·
Dr. Ben Mather
Dr. Ben Mather
· 0 min read
Abstract
Did you know there are hundreds of volcanoes in our backyard? Volcanoes have been active across eastern Australia for over 100 million years, which have shaped the landscape and produced the rich volcanic soil we use for growing food. Most volcanoes are found at the edges of tectonic plates, but not in the case of Australia’s volcanoes. Using coffee, Sesame Street, and pancake mix we will unravel the origins of Australia’s enigmatic volcanoes on a voyage through deep time.
Date
Jul 22, 2022 12:30 PM — 2:30 PM
Location

Byron Parklands, NSW

Science Tent, Byron Parklands, NSW

events
Volcanoes
Dr. Ben Mather
Authors
Dr. Ben Mather
ARC Industry Research Fellow

I am an ARC Industry Research Fellow in the School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at The University of Melbourne. I am an expert in fusing Earth evolution models with data to understand how groundwater moves critical minerals through the landscape. Related research interests include the cycling of volatiles within the Earth, probabilistic thermal models of the lithosphere to unravel past tectonic and climatic events, and understanding the how enigmatic volcanoes form.

I am a vocal advocate for the integral role of geoscience in responding to challenges we face in transitioning to the carbon-neutral economy. As an expert in my field, I have been interviewed in national and international print media, TV, and radio on a wide variety of subjects including earthquakes, volcanoes, groundwater, and critical minerals.