Our group studies active volcanoes and all major aspects of volcanic systems everywhere they occur on Earth. The University of Hawaii is uniquely situated at the center of the Pacific Ring of Fire.<br>VGP researchers use active Hawaiian volcanoes as natural laboratories of intraplate volcanism and fossil volcanic systems on the older islands to provide windows into deeper volcanic structures.<br>The group studies submarine volcanoes around the world using the UH and other research vessel, as well as human occupied and remote operated vehicles.<br>Group members even remotely monitor volcanoes on Earth and other planets with ground-based and space-borne observatories.<br>VGP has a wide range of modern, well-equipped analytical laboratories that provide data on the chemical composition and physical properties of igneous materials (see below).<br>The Hawaii Center for Volcanology is housed at SOEST, it includes scientists from the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and the Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes at UH Hilo, facilitating collaborative projects to monitor active volcanoes.