|These classes conducted a two-week field study on the island of
Montserrat in January 2005. The island of Montserrat has three
volcanic centers with one, the Soufriere Hills, currently in
eruption. The island has suffered several major eruptions since
1996, including the last major activity in July 2003. The
eruptions have left the southern part of the island devastated
and resulted in the evacuation of Plymouth, the island's former
capital city. The economy has been destroyed and the population
has dropped from twelve thousand in the 1990s to four thousand
today as a result of emigration. Every year the rain brings down
more debris from the mountain which creates continued havoc on
the island and has affected the main tourist and agricultural
area in the south. However, construction is booming on the
island currently and new schools, a hospital, an airport, and
government offices are now operating on the northwestern part of
the island. People are learning to live with a live volcano.
This program is an int