Chapter 25 Reflexive volcanology: 15 years of communicating risk and uncertainty in scientific advice on Montserrat

Abstract This paper examines in detail the history of the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) reports – formerly the Risk Assessment Panel (RAP). In particular, it discusses examples of processes within the SAC reporting as constituting a reflexive process: as methods are used, reviewed, reacted to and redefined, there is a honing of the material and report format. This is used to draw some conclusions about the nature of reporting volcanic risk and scientific uncertainty, both quantitatively and qualitatively. Results from a 2011 survey of Montserratians are provided to contextualize the discussion. The paper concludes by looking more broadly at risk governance on Montserrat, and how risk management feeds back into risk assessment via the public domain.