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She is Katya Krafft,

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without her, volcanology as we know it would not be the same.

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Volcanology is the science that studies volcanoes, and it was precisely Katya Krafft

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who decided to dedicate her life to studying these giants of fire. Katya was born in France

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on April 17, 1942; her first name was Catherine

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Josephine Conrad. Through photos and books, she fell in love with volcanoes at the age of 7

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She convinced her parents to travel to Italy to visit Mount Etna, her first love,

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and the most active volcano in Europe. Katya studied Geology at the University of Strasbourg

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there, she met her future husband and travel companion for research, Maurice Krafft.

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Together, they traveled the world in search of the most spectacular active volcanoes.

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regardless of the risk, they always wanted to be as close as possible to the interior

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of the Earth. The couple would camp near the volcanoes to witness everything.

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Katya focused on taking photographic records of all their expeditions and

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the materials ejected by these giants, such as molten lava, rocks,

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minerals, and gases, like never seen before. The Kraffts created

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several films and books where they showcased the power of volcanoes, their strength, their

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characteristics, the materials expelled, but above all, their beauty and grandeur.

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These records were of great value to the scientific community because volcanoes had never been

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studied so closely before.

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Additionally, they worked with some governments to develop evacuation plans

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and preventive measures that have helped thousands of people worldwide.

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In 1991, Katia died doing what she loved most,

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by the side of the person she loved the most. On June 3 of that year, the couple climbed 

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Mount Unzen in Japan, which was active for the first time in over

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200 years. Unfortunately, that was the last time Katya and Maurice

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saw a volcano. The pyroclastic flow, a blazing cloud, quickly overtook them,

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trapping them and making them part of the volcano

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forever.

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Currently, the Krafft Medal is awarded to those who

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contribute to the field of volcanology, as well as those who

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provide service and assistance to vulnerable populations affected by volcanoes.