on volcanoes, I forget everything

Katia Krafft, Maurice Krafft and volcanology

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Katia Krafft, outfitted in protective gear, stands on the edge of a volcano in Iceland (image via Image d’Est, MongrelMedia)

Katia Conrad spent her honeymoon watching a volcano erupt.

In 1966, she met her future husband, fellow volcanologist Maurice Krafft, at graduate school. After they married in 1970, they began working together as a team. They logged hundreds of hours studying eruptions and visited every continent except Antarctica. They often took on incredible risk for their research, with Maurice leading the way to get closer to lava flows and eruptions.

“I like it when he walks in front of me,” Katia said. “Since he is twice my weight, I know that wherever he goes, I can also go. I follow him because if he’s going to die, I'd rather be with him.”