The Rock Whisperers: From Lassen to the Lab with UNR's Volcano Research Group
By Kat Fulwider.
Advisers and collaborators: Jennifer Kent, Kelsey Fitzgerald, Vanesa De La Cruz Pavas, and Philipp Ruprecht.
About The Rock Whisperers
These short films and companion news article were created during the 2024-2025 academic year by Kat Fulwider and the Hitchcock Project for Visualizing Science at the Reynolds School of Journalism. The work was produced in collaboration with Dr. Philipp Ruprecht of the Volcano Research Group at the University of Nevada, Reno.
The goal of these products was to present Dr. Ruprecht’s research in an engaging and accessible format that could be used to help explain complex scientific concepts to K-12 students.
Each film has been translated into Spanish to support Dr. Ruprecht’s outreach and science education initiatives with schoolchildren in Chile and other Spanish-speaking regions where he conducts research. This project was made possible with funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation.
Nevada volcanologists Philipp Ruprecht and Jakob Scheel begin the hike to their field site at Lassen Volcanic park. Credit: Kat Fulwider.
The Rock Whisperers: A Day in the Life of a Volcanologist
Venture into the field with Dr. Philipp Ruprecht, volcanologist, as he and a team from the University of Nevada, Reno explore the geology of Lassen Volcanic National Park. Their mission: to investigate a 1000-year old eruption near Lassen Peak and learn about how magma chambers change during and after an eruption. From searching for mafic magmatic enclaves to cooking camp lasagna under the stars, experience a day (and night) in the life of a volcanologist!
A film by Kat Fulwider. November 13, 2024.
Un día en la vida de un vulcanólogo
Acompaña al Dr. Philipp Ruprecht, vulcanólogo, y a un equipo de la Universidad de Nevada, Reno, mientras exploran la geología del Parque Nacional Volcánico Lassen. Su misión: investigar una erupción de hace 1000 años cerca del Lassen Peak y aprender cómo cambian las cámaras magmáticas durante y después de una erupción. Desde buscar enclaves magmáticos hasta cocinar lasaña de campamento bajo las estrellas, vive un día (y una noche) en la vida de un vulcanólogo.
Video por Kat Fulwider.
Traducido por Vanesa de la Cruz.
The Path of a Mafic Enclave
Volcanologist Philipp Ruprecht and graduate student Jakob Scheel from the University of Nevada, Reno, are investigating the formation of a unique type of rock known as a mafic enclave. These rocks hold clues that help scientists learn about the conditions that lead to volcanic eruptions. From the rugged terrain of Lassen Volcanic National Park to the microbeam laboratory at UNR, follow along to learn how mafic enclaves form and the tools and techniques scientists use to study them.
A film by Kat Fulwider. June 12, 2025.
El Camino de las Inclusiones Magmáticas Máficas
El vulcanólogo Philipp Ruprecht y el estudiante de posgrado Jakob Scheel, de la Universidad de Nevada, Reno, investigan la formación de un tipo único de roca conocido como enclave máfico. Estas rocas contienen pistas que ayudan a los científicos a comprender las condiciones que provocan las erupciones volcánicas. Desde el terreno escarpado del Parque Nacional Volcánico Lassen hasta el laboratorio de microhaz en la UNR, acompáñanos para descubrir cómo se forman los enclaves máficos y las herramientas y técnicas que utilizan los científicos para estudiarlos.
Video por Kat Fulwider
Traducido por Vanesa de la Cruz