SOUFRIÈRE50

50 years of volcano science advances fostering resilient futures

Elaborating synergies between science, risk mitigation, and society towards a shared understanding of sustainable living around volcanic activity

About the Conference

The phreatic eruption of La Soufrière in Guadeloupe, which lasted from July 1976 to March 1977, profoundly shaped both society and the history of the archipelago. It revealed significant gaps in geological, geophysical, and geochemical knowledge, and underscored the urgent need for a long-term, multiparameter monitoring network to better address the challenges of living alongside an active volcano.

It also underscored the lack of experience in responding to volcanic crises and managing associated risks in a context of scientific uncertainty and the challenges to reach consensus among all actors. Fifty years after, while science, technology, risk management and communications have made giant strides, challenges posed by eruptive hazards — and in particular those generated by phreatic eruptions — still remain.

SOUFRIÈRE50 international conference will revisit this eruption and similar events worldwide. It will provide scientists, crisis management experts, and the general public with an opportunity to reflect on half a century of advances in volcanology, risk assessment and management, social sciences, and the ways societies perceive and cope with volcanic threats in times of global change. The program will include scientific lectures, roundtable discussions, and field excursions. In addition, public events will be organized in Saint-Claude and Basse-Terre to bring this fiftieth anniversary to life across the region.

We ambition to impulse a new momentum in the quest of constructing a representation of the volcanic reality shared widely by all stakeholders with the aim of improving risk perception, risk prevention and resilience.

Given that many regions worldwide face volcanic threats and must refine their strategies for coexisting with such risks, we believe the constructive outcomes of this conference will extend far beyond Guadeloupe and the Caribbean.

We look forward to welcoming you to Guadeloupe in 2026 and sharing experiences during this landmark event.

Scientific Programme

This second circular outlines a scientific program structured around four major thematic areas, revisiting the 1976–1977 eruption of La Soufrière de Guadeloupe while opening onto broader scientific, operational, and societal challenges associated with active volcanic systems today.

Four Central Themes

• Theme 1 – Advances in the understanding of phreatic eruptions
• Theme 2 – Volcanic activity in the Caribbean and in comparable volcanic environments
• Theme 3 – Risk and uncertainty management
• Theme 4 – Living in proximity to active volcanoes

The circular also presents the detailed conference program, including the full range of sessions, round tables, presentation formats, and discussion opportunities scheduled throughout the week.

Field Excursions

The conference will feature several scientific field excursions, including a visit to the Soufrière lava dome and its active fumarolic areas, offering participants the opportunity to observe in situ the processes explored during the sessions.

⚠️ Limited capacity – registration required! Some activities, particularly field excursions, are offered with limited capacity.

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With kind regards,

Marc Chaussidon, Director, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, Université Paris Cité, CNRS

The SOUFRIÈRE50 Coordinators · The SOUFRIÈRE50 Scientific Committee · The SOUFRIÈRE50 Local Organizing Committee