Hey, it's Flora Lichtenen, and this is Science Friday.

Today in the podcast, we have the next episode in The Leap.

This is a series I made with the Hypothesis Fund.

And we're taking you to an erupting volcano where a scientist faced some tough choices.

People of St. Vincent and Grenadines and residents in our blessed land.

I hereby order the evacuation of all premises in the areas designated as the...

Let's deal with the elderly. Those with children.

Those with children at the front, please.

In April 2021, Las Sufriere Volcano on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent started exploding.

The long dormant Lasufre volcano erupting Friday.

Holy, it's really erupt. My God.

Thousands evacuating as ash rains down on the island of St. Vincent.

If you're listening this or if they're not listening, get the message to them.

The volcano had been rumbling for months.

But to get people evacuated in time, one scientist was tasked with predicting exactly when the volcano was going to blow.

Good morning, Professor. Professor Robertson. He's one of the foremost authorities and he carried me in.

Professor Richie Robertson. He's a volcanologist, the former director of the University of the West Indies

Seismic Research Center and a world authority on Las Zafrera volcano.

He's got an important job and a fancy title.

But this is how the people on St. Vincent see him.

Richie's a Royal Caribbean boy.

He feels like one of us.

...