FACE TO FACE WITH

Juan Carlos Carracedo, Geologist and Researcher

Juan Carlos Carracedo: “The diminishing importance of Natural Sciences in education is a reality”

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David Rabadà

This summer, I had the unforgettable experience of speaking with Dr. Juan Carlos Carracedo in Tenerife. My visit to the island in August aimed to deepen my understanding of its volcanology. However, thanks to this former Research Professor at the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) and Director of the Estación Volcanológica de Canarias (EVC until 2011, I discovered numerous places I could never have imagined.

Now retired, Dr. Carracedo is an Emeritus Associate Researcher at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, having collaborated with those who conceived and established the most significant geological theory: Plate Tectonics. A member of the GEOVOL research group at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Carracedo witnessed the birth of this theory when I was still a child, fascinated by volcanoes and dinosaurs. He even studied the eruption of the Teneguía volcano in La Palma in 1971, standing right at its base. But what made this encounter truly special was Dr. Carracedo’s willingness to share his knowledge and offer me the chance to see Tenerife through the eyes of an expert volcanologist.

A member of the Real Academia Canaria de Ciencias, Carracedo’s professional, personal, and human qualities leave little doubt about his stature. He has worked in the Canary Islands for over 50 years and published more than 200 scientific papers and books on the region’s volcanism, including Geology of the Canary Islands (Elsevier). It is clear we should learn more about this eminent geologist.

How do you perceive society’s recognition of geology?

Unfortunately, in Spain, Natural Sciences, and particularly Geology, do not receive the societal attention they deserve.

What reasons do you attribute to this?

There are two main reasons. Firstly, geology is often associated with disasters—earthquakes, tsunamis, and large volcanic eruptions, most of which occur in distant regions. While these events are indeed part of geology, as they relate to Earth, the discipline’s most critical aspect is understanding the planet’s formation and evolution. It is this knowledge that has provided the stage for the emergence of life and its astonishing diversification into thousands of species, including our own. Understanding Earth as a “ship” we all travel on would foster a more positive and caring attitude toward our planet.

Do you believe that Natural Sciences are undervalued in the education curriculum?

Certainly. The diminishing importance of Natural Sciences is a fact in our education system.

Plate Tectonics is a relatively recent paradigm in geology. How were you involved in its development?

When I completed my degree in Geological Sciences at the Complutense University, I couldn’t shake a sense of dissatisfaction. After five long years memorizing vast amounts of detailed information about minerals, rocks, and fossils, I undoubtedly gained significant geological knowledge. However, the larger questions—the true understanding of what Earth was and its processes—remained unanswered. I knew a great deal about earthquakes, but what actually caused them? Why did they occur in certain areas of the planet, and often simultaneously? Something crucial was missing—a unifying theory that could transform geology from a descriptive science into one capable of analysis and prediction.

With so many doubts, what gave you the starting point?

It was the United States that ultimately provided the information leading to the theory of Plate Tectonics. Harry Hess, a Princeton geologist, former US Navy officer during World War II, and captain of one of the warships tasked with escorting transport vessels against Nazi submarines enlightened me by employing the new sonar technique. This allowed him to ‘see’ the previously unknown ocean floor, link it to Wegener’s theory of continental drift, and ultimately formulate his idea of Plate Tectonics. This information, classified by the US Navy, was only disseminated at a conference in Toronto, a refuge for many who opposed the Vietnam War.

What was your next step?

I had heard rumours about a professor at Erindale College, University of Toronto, who had a revolutionary theory on hotspots and continental drift—Plate Tectonics.

I understand that your involvement led you to go abroad

Indeed, my decision was to go directly to the source to learn about this groundbreaking theory and bring it to Spain, which at the time, under Franco’s autarky, shunned contact with international science. After completing my studies in Madrid, I spent a year in Canada for postgraduate work. I had family in Toronto, so I moved there, receiving a small grant as a postgraduate student at the University of Toronto. I began working on mining projects associated with meteorite impacts. I even considered staying permanently, but military service was still compulsory in Spain, and failure to return would have branded me a deserter. So, I came back to complete my military service and began a doctoral thesis on the geology of Tenerife under the supervision of Professor José María Fuster, chair of Petrology at Complutense University.

“I recall giving lectures to my former professors about Plate Tectonics and its significance”

Upon returning to Spain, what did you do?

I recall giving lectures to my former professors about Plate Tectonics and its significance.

So, you were a pioneer in disseminating the Plate Tectonics theory. What eventually drew you to volcanology?

It was somewhat unexpected. At first, I had no special interest in volcanoes. But then the Teneguía eruption occurred in La Palma in October 1971, and we went there. It was love at first sight.

What was that experience like?

I was fascinated by the overwhelming power of nature. Studying volcanoes in books was nothing compared to observing one firsthand. That moment fully and irrevocably turned my focus to volcanology, particularly the volcanism of oceanic islands, and even more specifically, the Canary Islands. Although I completed my doctorate, from that point on, my efforts were devoted entirely to studying volcanoes. Even when I studied others, it was to gain a better understanding of those in the Canaries. I’ve been doing that for over 50 years, and I intend to continue.

In 1971, you were present for the Teneguía eruption. Yet, it didn’t have the global impact we might expect.

Indeed, Teneguía was quite a small volcano, more of a curiosity than a terrifying threat. The local population viewed it as a spectacle, and it became a tourist attraction. It was nothing like the more significant and catastrophic 2021 eruption, during which the people of La Palma were made acutely aware of the realities of living in an active volcanic region.

“Earthquakes are, in fact, one of the most powerful tools for the early detection of volcanic eruptions”

We are discussing the Tajogaite eruption in La Palma. How should the approach to volcanic risk in the Canary Islands change?

It was clear that the approach to volcanic risk management in the Canary Islands needed to be completely overhauled. The institution responsible for this task, the Instituto Geográfico y Catastral (Geographical and Cadastral Institute), maintained a seismic network across the national territory, but it was primarily focused on detecting and studying “continental” earthquakes. Since earthquakes cannot be predicted, only recorded after they occur, there was little interest in the seismic activity of the Canary Islands, and the available instrumentation in the region was quite limited. However, earthquakes are, in fact, one of the most powerful tools for the early detection of volcanic eruptions, which is the only way to ensure the safety of the population by taking preventive measures.

What was your essential conclusion?

The essential conclusion, and the focus of my efforts, was to push for a significant increase in the density of the seismic network in the Canary Islands for the study and monitoring of volcanic risk. I am pleased to say that this was achieved, and the effectiveness of the system was demonstrated during the 2021 eruption in La Palma. Despite the significance and duration of the eruption, the event was detected in advance, allowing for the preventive evacuation of 8,000 people.

So, the volcanic risk management in the Canary Islands is up to date following the latest eruptions in La Palma. But do you think the media is handling these events appropriately?

The way the media handles these events largely depends on the information provided by the experts managing the eruption, and this, in turn, depends on the available instrumental and human resources. Until relatively recently, it was quite common for geologists and geophysicists to exaggerate news about possible eruptions on the islands whenever there were swarms of microseisms, without considering that this is an intrinsic feature of an area with active volcanism. The spread of false alarms in local media was often picked up by international outlets, which did little to help an archipelago whose primary source of income is tourism.

Could you tell us about your latest professional project?

I am currently retired and primarily focused on science communication. However, I am still actively involved in projects led by both Spanish and international colleagues, such as the study of the 2021 eruption in La Palma.

“It’s quite possible that, for example, the Latin I was taught has been helpful in aspects that are challenging to specify clearly”

What positive connections would you draw between your professional projects and your school education?

I am not entirely sure of the correlation. It is quite possible that, for example, the Latin I was taught has been helpful in aspects that are challenging to specify clearly

Looking at your professional journey, how do you think the current education system should be improved?

Without a doubt, by prioritising understanding over rote memorisation and encouraging practical application over mere theory.

From an idealistic perspective, what would be your wish for the future of geology?

To reach one day a level of understanding of the Earth’s behaviour that allows us to predict and quantify its most significant processes.

Source: educational EVIDENCE

Rights: Creative Commons