Kayla Iacovino

Last updated
Kayla Iacovino
NationalityAmerican
Alma mater University of Cambridge, Arizona State University
Scientific career
Fields Volcanology, Experimental petrology
InstitutionsJacobs Inc. at NASA
Doctoral advisor Clive Oppenheimer
Website https://www.kaylaiacovino.com/

Kayla Iacovino is an American volcanologist, noted for her widespread fieldwork and experimental petrology. She was the first woman to do her field work in North Korea. Originally from Arizona in the United States, she has worked in countries including Chile, North Korea, China, Costa Rica, Antarctica, Italy, Japan and Ethiopia. [1]

Contents

Early life

Iacovino was born and raised in Arizona. She entered Arizona State University in 2005, with the initial interest of filming and directing or becoming an astronaut but quickly became fascinated by geology. In her sophomore year, she began working for and researching with petrologist Gordon Moore. She then pursued her doctoral degree at the University of Cambridge. [2]

Career

Iacovino's work has involved carefully negotiated diplomatic relations with countries such as North Korea. During one of these trips, she worked alongside a team of their scientists as the only woman involved. [3] She was the first female scientist to ever conduct traveling research in North Korea and was also the only American on this expedition. [4]

Iacovino's work in North Korea is part of an international effort (which includes American, British, North Korean, and Chinese colleagues) to understand Mount Paektu, a volcano located on the border between North Korea and China. [5] The work is led by British scientists Clive Oppenheimer (Iacovino's PhD supervisor) and James Hammond and was recently featured in the Werner Herzog documentary "Into the Inferno". The group's work has been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Notably, the publications include both western and North Korean co-authors. [6] [7]

In 2012, Iacovino also studied Erta Ale in Ethiopia. During this, her team was the target of a high-profile attempt to capture and imprison Westerners. Due to a delay in traveling, this was not successful - although several other tourists were harmed. [3] [8]

Currently, Iacovino is working for Jacobs Inc. at NASA's Johnson Space Center. [9] Iacovino was a Post-Doctoral Fellow at Arizona State University. Iacovino previously held a National Science Foundation Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the United States Department of the Interior US Geological Survey. She recreates magma chambers with experimental petrology, characterizes rock samples, measures volcanic degassing, and performs thermodynamic modeling. [1] [10]

Personal life

Iacovino was formerly the Editor-in-Chief of TrekMovie.com (a Star Trek fan site), but she officially left the website's staff in 2023. [11] She was inspired by Kate Mulgrew's character - the first female captain of Star Trek. Mulgrew has since met with Iacovino and noted that unlike Iacovino, she "only played one [scientist] on TV." [3]

Iacovino is involved in encouraging young women to pursue STEM careers, such as with projects like the Curiosity Science Program created through a Gold Award Project by one of BBC's 100 Women of 2016, Erin McKenney. In this program, Iacovino described her own career as one that requires curiosity, interest in the world, and a willingness to get your hands dirty. [12] [13] [14] In a separate interview, her advice to people interested in volcanology was, "Follow your heart, and see what path that leads you down and find something that you’re passionate about." [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kathryn Janeway</span> Character in Star Trek: Voyager

Kathryn Janeway is a fictional character in the Star Trek franchise. She was the main character of the television series Star Trek: Voyager, which aired between 1995 and 2001. She served as the captain of the Starfleet starship USS Voyager while it was lost in the Delta Quadrant on the other side of the galaxy. After returning home to the Alpha Quadrant, she is promoted to vice admiral and briefly appears in the 2002 film Star Trek: Nemesis. She is seen again commanding the USS Dauntless in Star Trek: Prodigy, searching for the missing USS Protostar which was being commanded by Captain Chakotay, her former first officer on Voyager, at the time of its disappearance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paektu Mountain</span> Mountain on the China–North Korea border

Paektu Mountain or Baekdu Mountain (Korean: 백두산) is an active stratovolcano on the Chinese–North Korean border. In China, it is known as Changbai Mountain. At 2,744 m (9,003 ft), it is the tallest mountain in North Korea and Northeast China and the tallest mountain of the Baekdu-daegan and Changbai mountain ranges. The highest peak, called Janggun Peak, belongs to North Korea. The mountain notably has a caldera that contains a large crater lake called Heaven Lake, and is also the source of the Songhua, Tumen, and Yalu rivers. Korean and Manchu people assign a mythical quality to the mountain and its lake, and consider the mountain to be their ancestral homeland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volcanologist</span> Scientist who studies volcanoes

A volcanologist, or volcano scientist, is a geologist who focuses on understanding the formation and eruptive activity of volcanoes. Volcanologists frequently visit volcanoes, sometimes active ones, to observe and monitor volcanic eruptions, collect eruptive products including tephra, rock and lava samples. One major focus of inquiry in recent times is the prediction of eruptions to alleviate the impact on surrounding populations and monitor natural hazards associated with volcanic activity. Geologists who research volcanic materials that make up the solid Earth are referred to as igneous petrologists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hyesan</span> Municipal City in Ryanggang, North Korea

Hyesan is a city in the northern part of Ryanggang province of North Korea. It is a hub of river transportation as well as a product distribution centre. It is also the administrative centre of Ryanggang Province. As of 2008, the population of the city is 192,680.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volcanic winter</span> Temperature anomaly event caused by a volcanic eruption

A volcanic winter is a reduction in global temperatures caused by droplets of sulfuric acid obscuring the Sun and raising Earth's albedo (increasing the reflection of solar radiation) after a large, sulfur-rich, particularly explosive volcanic eruption. Climate effects are primarily dependent upon the amount of injection of SO2 and H2S into the stratosphere where they react with OH and H2O to form H2SO4 on a timescale of a week, and the resulting H2SO4 aerosols produce the dominant radiative effect. Volcanic stratospheric aerosols cool the surface by reflecting solar radiation and warm the stratosphere by absorbing terrestrial radiation for several years. Moreover, the cooling trend can be further extended by atmosphere–ice–ocean feedback mechanisms. These feedbacks can continue to maintain the cool climate long after the volcanic aerosols have dissipated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tephra</span> Fragmental material produced by a volcanic eruption

Tephra is fragmental material produced by a volcanic eruption regardless of composition, fragment size, or emplacement mechanism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Francis (volcanologist)</span>

Peter William Francis (1944–1999) was a British volcanologist specialising in the study of active volcanoes on both the Earth and other planets in the Solar System. He was also renowned for his ability as a communicator, reaching the general public in a series of popular and acclaimed books on his subject.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samjiyon</span> Municipal City in Ryanggang, North Korea

Samjiyŏn is a city in Ryanggang Province, North Korea. It takes its name from three lakes in the city, which are collectively known as the Samjiyŏn. Samjiyŏn is situated near Mount Paektu, and tour groups fly to the city's airport to see the mountain, which holds significance in North Korean mythology. Samjiyon is the least populated city in North Korea

<span class="mw-page-title-main">946 eruption of Paektu Mountain</span> Major volcanic eruption in Korea

The 946 eruption of Paektu Mountain in Korea and China, also known as the Millennium Eruption or Tianchi eruption, was one of the most powerful volcanic eruptions in recorded history and is classified as a VEI-6 event. The eruption resulted in a brief period of significant climate change in Manchuria. The eruption occurred in late 946 CE.

<i>Into the Inferno</i> (film) 2016 documentary film by Werner Herzog

Into the Inferno is a 2016 documentary film directed by Werner Herzog. In it, Herzog explores active volcanoes from around the world, and the people who live near them, with volcanologist Clive Oppenheimer. The film had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival on 3 September 2016 before its debut on Netflix on 28 October 2016.

Marie Edmonds is a Professor of volcanology and Earth sciences at the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Cambridge whose research focuses on the physics and chemistry of volcanic eruptions and magmatism and understanding volatile cycling in the solid Earth as mediated by plate tectonics. She is interested in the social and economic impacts of natural hazards; and the sustainable use of Earth's mineral and energy resources. Professor Edmonds is the Vice President and Ron Oxburgh Fellow in Earth Sciences at Queens' College, Cambridge; and the Deputy Head of Department and Director of Research at the Earth Sciences Department, University of Cambridge.

Clive Oppenheimer is a British volcanologist, and Professor of Volcanology in the Department of Geography of the University of Cambridge.

"Context Is for Kings" is the third episode of the American television series Star Trek: Discovery, which is set roughly a decade before the events of the original Star Trek series and explores the war between the Federation and the Klingons. The episode was written by showrunners Gretchen J. Berg and Aaron Harberts, and Craig Sweeny, from a story by series co-creator Bryan Fuller, Berg, and Harberts. It was directed by producer Akiva Goldsman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janine Krippner</span> Physical volcanologist from New Zealand

Janine Krippner is a physical volcanologist from New Zealand who uses remote sensing to study pyroclastic flows and is a popular science communicator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tamsin Mather</span> Professor of Earth Sciences

Tamsin Alice Mather is a British Professor of Earth Sciences at the Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford and a Fellow of University College, Oxford. She studies volcanic processes and their impacts on the Earth's environment and has appeared on the television and radio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christina Neal</span> USGS volcanologist

Christina A. Neal is an American volcanologist and an honoree for a Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal. Neal was the Scientist-in-Charge at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory from 2015 to 2020. Neal took over as the director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Volcano Science Center on May 9, 2021. Neal is a Fellow of the Geological Society of America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volcanic crater lake</span> Lake formed within a volcanic crater

A volcanic crater lake is a lake in a crater that was formed by explosive activity or a collapse during a volcanic eruption.

<i>Ashfall</i> (film) South Korean film

Ashfall, also known as: Mount Paektu, is a 2019 South Korean disaster film directed by Lee Hae-jun and Kim Byung-seo, starring Lee Byung-hun, Ha Jung-woo, Ma Dong-seok, Jeon Hye-jin and Bae Suzy. The film was released in December 2019 in South Korea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ri Yong-suk</span> North Korean politician (1916–2021)

Ri Yong-suk was a North Korean politician and revolutionary. A veteran of the anti-Japanese struggle, Ri had close relations with all three generations of the Kim dynasty. During WWII, she was with Kim Il Sung in the Soviet 88th Separate Rifle Brigade. During the Korean War, she took care of Kim Jong Il, eldest son and future heir of Kim Il Sung. Under Kim Jong Un, she was portrayed as a link between the original guerrilla generation and the current leadership. Ri was elected to the Supreme People's Assembly in 1998 and 2003.

References

  1. 1 2 "About Me" . Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  2. "Down to Earth With: Volcanologist Kayla Iacovino | EARTH Magazine". www.earthmagazine.org. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
  3. 1 2 3 Pagliery, Jose (2016-08-22). "Meet the Trekkie who became a real-life vulcanologist". CNNMoney. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
  4. "Dr. Kayla Iacovino: In the footsteps of a volcano scientist". discov-her.com. Archived from the original on 2018-02-13. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
  5. Fleur, Nicholas St (2016-12-09). "Only a Rumbling Volcano Could Make North Korea and the West Play Nice". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2017-01-03.
  6. Kyong-Song, Ri; Hammond, James O. S.; Chol-Nam, Ko; Hyok, Kim; Yong-Gun, Yun; Gil-Jong, Pak; Chong-Song, Ri; Oppenheimer, Clive; Liu, Kosima W. (2016-04-01). "Evidence for partial melt in the crust beneath Mt. Paektu (Changbaishan), Democratic People's Republic of Korea and China". Science Advances. 2 (4): e1501513. Bibcode:2016SciA....2E1513K. doi:10.1126/sciadv.1501513. ISSN   2375-2548. PMC   4846464 . PMID   27152343.
  7. Iacovino, Kayla; Ju-Song, Kim; Sisson, Thomas; Lowenstern, Jacob; Kuk-Hun, Ri; Jong-Nam, Jang; Kun-Ho, Song; Song-Hwan, Ham; Oppenheimer, Clive (2016-11-01). "Quantifying gas emissions from the "Millennium Eruption" of Paektu volcano, Democratic People's Republic of Korea/China". Science Advances. 2 (11): e1600913. Bibcode:2016SciA....2E0913I. doi:10.1126/sciadv.1600913. ISSN   2375-2548. PMC   5262451 . PMID   28138521.
  8. Davison, William; Smith, David (2012-01-19). "Ethiopia attack: British survivor endures 12-hour ordeal on volcano". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2021-07-05. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
  9. "ARES | Bios | Kayla Iacovino". ares.jsc.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  10. "Research – Dr. Kayla Iacovino". www.kaylaiacovino.com. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
  11. "About". TrekMovie.com. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  12. "Erin McKenney Earns Girl Scout Gold Award – Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains". gsgwmgirls.org. Archived from the original on 2018-02-18. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
  13. "As it happened: Record-breaking number of women added to Wikipedia". BBC News. 2016-12-07. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
  14. "Curiosity". Curiosity. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
  15. Serrato Marks, Gabriela (2020-09-19). "Volcano diplomacy and the future of eruption predictions: the life of a volcanologist". Massive Science. Retrieved 2021-01-15.