Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) has signed a five-year management contract with University of the West Indies (UWI) Seismic Research Centre – valued at about EC$3.5 million per year.
The new contract, effective from July, this year, to June 2029, extends the longstanding collaboration between the Caribbean scientific institutions on Soufrière Hills volcano research.
It follows a two-year interim arrangement that concluded in June, according to a UWI Seismic Research Centre press release on 18 July.
Montserrat’s Deputy Governor Lyndell Simpson said the partnership is “vital to ensuring public safety and continued confidence in the sustainable future of Montserrat”.
“We continue to build on strong collaborative relationships and relish opportunities for the MVO at the forefront of volcanic research,” she added.
Dr Erouscilla Joseph, director of UWI Seismic Research Centre called the observatory a “valuable focal point for volcano research in the Caribbean region”.
The collaboration means the centre will also partner with the observatory on its education and outreach initiatives, the press release said.
Long relationship
UWI Seismic Research Centre has been integral to the history of the Soufrière Hills Volcano since the 1950s.
The centre was responsible for monitoring its historic unrest and responded when the volcano began to erupt in 1995, the press release said.
It was also among the founding groups involved in establishing the observatory and has officially managed its operations since 2008.
Since then, seven full-time staff from the centre have been stationed in Montserrat, overseeing the MVO’s monitoring programmes and enhancing scientific understanding of the volcanic system and its hazards.
In 2025, the MVO in collaboration with UWI Seismic Research Centre will commemorate 30 years since the Soufrière Hills Volcano began its eruption.
To mark this significant milestone, the observatory is hosting SHV30, a scientific conference celebrating Montserrat’s pivotal role in advancing global understanding of volcanoes and their impact on societies.
Volcanologists and scientists from around the world will gather to discuss recent findings and share experiences from their work on this extensively studied volcano.
Simpson said the impending 30 year milestone attests to the resilience and adaptability of the island and its people.
