1976 …2022

Research activity per year

Personal profile

Biography

Ray is an Emeritus Professor in the School of Geosciences, Monash University, and a Visiting Professor at CODES, University of Tasmania.

Ray's research interests are:

  • Physical Volcanology
  • Clastic sedimentology
  • Dynamic processes in modern and ancient volcanic and volcano-sedimentary systems
  • Collaborative industry research

Ray Cas is an Emeritus Professor in the School of Geosciences at Monash University, and a Visiting Professor at CODES, University of Tasmania. He is internationally well known in the field of physical volcanology, including understanding explosive and effusive eruption processes, transportation and dispersal processes of erupted products, the hazards posed by volcanic eruptions, and the natural resources that are produced by volcanoes. 

He and his research team of postdoctoral research fellows and research students undertake research in many modern volcanic provinces overseas, including Japan, New Zealand, Italy, Canary Islands (Spain, in the Atlantic Ocean), Azores Islands (Portugal, in the mid-Atlantic Ocean), the Andes (northwest Argentina), as well as the still active Newer Volcanics Province of Western Victoria and South Australia. 

In addition, the Monash Volcanology Research Group (MONVOLC), undertakes collaborative research with the mining industry, helping companies to develop a better understanding of the origin and characteristics of the volcanic host rock successions to a variety of mineral deposits, including gold, nickel, base metals (Cu, Pb, Zn) and diamonds. This research has involved fieldwork all over Australia, Canada, South Africa and Botswana.

Ray presents an annual week-long industry shortcourse on volcanic processes, titled 'Volcanic Processes, Products, Successions and Resources'. This course has been presented annually in Australia since 1982, and has also been presented by invitation overseas in Spain, Croatia, Slovenia, Canada, and Brazil. Over 1,000 geoscientists and research students have taken this course.

Ray is President of the International Association for Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI), the major international learned society for volcanology, for a 4-year term from 2011 - 2015. He regularly speaks publically and gives media interviews on all aspects related to volcanology.

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • SDG 14 - Life Below Water

Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or