Richard Robertson

Richard E. A. Robertson is a Professor of Geology and past Director of the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre. He studied Geology and Volcanology at Mona Campus of The UWI in Jamaica and Leeds University the United Kingdom.

Richard E. A. Robertson
Born
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Alma materUniversity of the West Indies
University of Leeds
Scientific career
InstitutionsUniversity of the West Indies

Early life and education

Robertson was born in Saint Vincent.[1] He became interested in volcanology after waking up to the La Soufrière eruption on 1979. He studied geology at the University of the West Indies and graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1987.[2] After graduating he was appointed Head of the Soufriere Monitoring Unit in St. Vincent. He moved to the United Kingdom for his graduate studies, and earned a master's degree in volcanology at Leeds. Robertson moved back to The UWI for his doctoral degree and completed a PhD in geology at the University of the West Indies in 2003.[2] For his doctoral studies he worked on the volcanic geology of pre-Soufriere rocks in St. Vincent.[1] He was part of the team who were first on the ground monitoring the Soufriere Hills Volcano. In 1995 he published a paper based on his Master's research that was the first risk assessment of La Soufriere volcano.[3]

Research and career

In 1996 Robertson was made the Chief Scientist of the Montserrat Volcano Observatory.[2] He was appointed Director of the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre in 2008 and apart from a brief two year break from 2011-2013, he has held this position ever since.[4] In this capacity he has secured grants from the United States Agency for International Development and Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, as well as the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. He looks to develop a more robust monitoring network and enhance and diversity the education and outreach provided by the centre.[4][5][6] In 2007 Robertson travelled to the University of Bristol supported by the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851.[5] Here he worked on geothermal fluid analysis using atomic absorption spectroscopy and ion chromatography.[5] The Montserrat Volcano Observatory has been manage by Seismic Research Centre since 2008. He was promoted to Professor at the University of the West Indies in May 2017.[7][8] Here has developed the volcanic hazard atlas of the Caribbean.[9] He is part of the STREVA and VOILA program with Jenni Barclay.[10] In 2018 he launched Volcano Ready, a project which looks to help communities manage the impacts of the La Soufriere volcano of St. Vincent.[11]

Robertson joined the crew aboard EV Nautilus in 2014.[2] He took part in the Kick 'em Jenny Submarine Volcano Project, which was captained by expedition leader Katy Croff Bell.[12] He has recently voiced his concern over whether Trinidad and Tobago is prepared for a strong earthquake.[13]

Robertson has served as a consultant for UNESCO, the Organization of American States and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. He is a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Environmental Commission.[14][15] He was awarded the Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence for science and technology in 2014.[16]

References
  1. "Dr. Richard Robertson". ANSA Caribbean Awards for Excellence. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  2. "Richard Robertson". Nautilus Live. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  3. Robertson, Richard E. A. (1995). "An assessment of the risk from future eruptions of the Soufriere volcano of St. Vincent, West Indies". Natural Hazards. 11 (2): 163–191. doi:10.1007/bf00634531. ISSN 0921-030X.
  4. "The University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre". uwiseismic.com. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  5. "Annual Report 2006 - 2007" (PDF). UWI Seismic. 2007. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  6. WEFM. "Director (UWI SRC): Emphasizes importance on ongoing public education about La Soufriere | WE FM |The Clean, Fresh Sound". Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  7. "UWI's Dr Richard Robertson and Dr Paul Brown Promoted to Professors". UWI TV. 2017-07-03. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  8. "Dr Richard Robertson Promoted to Professor". nemo.gov.vc. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  9. "The University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre". uwiseismic.com. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  10. "Volatiles in the Lesser Antilles – VoiLA | A NERC-funded multidisciplinary consortium project". Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  11. "St. Vincent and the Grenadines gets "Volcano Ready" with new project | Caribbean Development Bank". www.caribank.org. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  12. "Kick 'em Jenny Submarine Volcano Project (2014)". Nautilus Live. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  13. "T&T not ready for the big one". Trinidad Express Newspapers. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  14. "Members of the Commission". ec.gov.tt. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  15. "Rowley wary PoS Hospital's integrity". The Trinidad Guardian Newspaper. 2017-05-09. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  16. "UWI Today". sta.uwi.edu. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
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