On October 11, 2020, the Journal du CNRS published a point of view article entitled “Le volcan, le savant et le politique” (The volcano, the scientist and the politician) signed by Éric Humler, geologist and oceanographer, president of the CNRS Very Large Scientific Facilities and Infrastructures Committee (TGIR). Éric Humler is a professor at the University of Nantes, and Scientific Director of the Mayotte Volcanological and Seismological Monitoring Network – RéVoSiMa (1).

In 2018, the largest seismic shaking ever recorded in the Mayotte region triggered a breathtaking scientific investigation. It led to the discovery that an underwater volcano was being born in the east of the island. The article by Eric Humler, who led the scientific campaign on the spot, recounts the events by evoking the role of scientists and politicians in crises in general, whether they involve volcanoes or viruses.

The newspaper Libération also published this column the same day in its “debates” section under the title “Volcano emerging near Mayotte: “That’s all we needed now,” the prefect exclaimed.”

(1) The Mayotte volcanological and seismological monitoring network coordinates the surveillance of the area and publishes bulletins for monitoring seismic-volcanic activity in Mayotte. A preliminary activity bulletin, relating to the previous day’s activities, is published daily. A preliminary activity bulletin, relating to the previous day’s activities, is published daily, and detailed bulletins, exceptional communiqués and other reports are also posted online on a regular basis.

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