If asked to put a dot on a map at a place furthest from civilisation you'd be hard-pressed to find somewhere more remote than the South Sandwich Islands. This isolated volcanic island chain in the notoriously unpredictable Southern Ocean holds incredible potential to advance many outstanding questions within volcanology and yet it remains incredibly enigmatic. Few individuals have ever landed ashore and even satellite observations are rare.

As part of a National Geographic-funded research project, Emma Nicholson and a large team launched an ambitious expedition to study the volcanic activity at Mt Michael, Saunders Island. The expedition required them to make the first ascent of this glaciated active volcano to ground-truth satellite images which suggested that a lava lake has existed within the volcano's crater for several decades. If confirmed, this lava lake would be one of only a rare handful worldwide.

Emma joins us to discuss this pioneering research expedition and to share the documentary film of her journey, 'Lake of Fire' (45 mins), which offers a behind the scenes look at what it takes to put together an expedition of this scale, the trials and tribulations of life in the field, and the challenges of balancing science and survival in one of the harshest environments on Earth.

The talk will be held at the Alpine Club's premises at 55 Charlotte Road, London, EC2A 3QF from 7PM on 27 February 2024.

For safety reasons, we are required to keep a register of all attendees. If you plan to attend, please complete the form below. (This applies to both members and non-members).

There is no official charge for entry, but we do ask non-members to make a small contribution towards the continued running of the lectures if they are able.