What is the interior of the Earth like? Where and why do we have volcanoes? What is a volcano like inside? These are just some of the questions that are answered in the project 'Discover volcanoes. Accompany the Volkis on their volcanic adventure'. This Earth Sciences dissemination book, which travels to the world of volcanoes, exploring their dangers, but also their benefits, is now available in English. The book can be downloaded for free in PDF version.
The publication combines illustration and science, focused on several geological topics, and can be adapted to both adults and children. There is also a website that includes a wide variety of resources and educational materials: experiments, drawings to colour in and fill in, videos, interesting links and a complete glossary with the volcanoes terminology.
Nia Schamuells, disseminator and geologist, has illustrated this book, which has been coordinated by the Barcelona Volcanology Group, formed by Adelina Geyer and Joan Martí, researchers at Geosciences Barcelona (GEO3BCN-CSIC), and Meritxell Aulinas, from the Faculty of Earth Sciences at the University of Barcelona (UB).
Who are the Volkis?
The main characters of the project are the Volkis, seven fantastic characters who represent different volcanic products and who accompany the public on this geological journey. Rocky, Lava, Bombi, Xenoli, Scori and Tefri are part of this top-secret club of volcano lovers.
The Volkis show the cultural and economic interest that volcanoes represent in society, explain the dangers associated with eruptions, give an introduction to volcanic surveillance and review the most important eruptions that have occurred throughout our history. These characters also travel around the Solar System in order to explore the main volcanoes of other planets and moons.
‘Discover the volcanoes. Accompany the Volkis on their volcanic adventure' is a project funded by Cuenta la Ciencia of the Fundación General CSIC. It has been carried out and reviewed by GEO3BCN-CSIC, the UB and the Research Group on Science Education and Competences (ENCIC).
Olaya Dorado, from GEO3BCN, and Joaquín Hopfenblatt and Helena Albert, from the UB, have collaborated in editing the texts; Carmen López, from the Spanish National Geographic Institute (IGN), Antonio M. Álvarez-Valero, from the University of Salamanca, and Juliana Valencia, María del Carmen Acebal and Isabel María Cruz-Lorite, from ENCIC, have reviewed the texts.
Volkis official Twitter account
