Lionel Wilson, a renowned volcanologist at Lancaster University, has a strong connection to Hawaii, with the state flag and pictures of the island’s volcanoes adorning his office. He spends a significant amount of time each year in Hawaii studying the unique geographical features of the islands. However, Wilson recently traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah to receive the Gilbert award from the Geological Society of America, in recognition of his outstanding career achievement in planetary geoscience.
Although he is well-respected in the US, Wilson has chosen to remain in the UK due to his affection for the Lune Valley, which he and his wife Dorothy enjoy exploring on foot. Wilson has been a professor at Lancaster University since 1970, but due to a rare genetic condition, he has trouble recalling significant events and people he has previously encountered. Fortunately, his work is not affected as much of it is done electronically.
Wilson’s fascination with volcanoes began with the Apollo moon landing in 1969 when Tommy Gold, an American scientist, predicted that the dark areas on the moon’s surface were basins of dust through which the Apollo would plummet. However, it turned out to be impact craters from asteroids and some volcanic activity. Intrigued by the implications of volcanic activity on Earth, Wilson’s mentor, George Walker at Imperial, guided him towards studying the correlation between physics and volcanic eruptions, which cemented his career in volcanology. Although the field has grown substantially in the UK since then, Wilson still stands out as a pioneer in the field of planetary geoscience, with no one else having divided their time between the Earth and other planets as much as he has.
In the event of a volcanic eruption at Yellowstone, Wilson projects that over 50% of North America would be smothered in ash, causing a substantial temperature drop in the atmosphere. However, the timing of such an event is unpredictable. Wilson aims to inform authorities of this possibility without inciting unnecessary panic. Regardless, the potential eruption does not deter him from traveling across the Atlantic to reunite with familiar colleagues.
Personal Details:
Name: Lionel Wilson
Age: 61 years old
Profession: Emeritus Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Lancaster University
Previous Experience: Post-doctoral research fellow at London University
Likes: Hiking, tennis, playing classical music, and caring for cats
Dislikes: Motorists who crank up their car radios while lowering their windows
Interests: Studying volcanoes on Earth and in outer space, serving as the UK editor for the Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research
Marital Status: Married without children.
