R. Stephen J. Sparks

Robert Stephen John Sparks, known as Steve Sparks, is a British volcanologist, born in 1949, who has been professor of geology at the University of Bristol since 1989. His research applying fluid mechanics to volcanic processes has been particularly influential in understanding pyroclastic flows, the fast moving, superheated currents of gas and rock fragments that are among the deadliest products of volcanic eruptions, and he has studied active volcanoes in Chile and Iceland alongside long running monitoring of the Soufriere Hills volcano on Montserrat. He was awarded the Vetlesen Prize in 2015, regarded as the earth sciences equivalent of the Nobel Prize, and the Royal Society's Royal Medal in 2018.