On Monday 14 March 2022, our centre member Dr Wonyong Park had the privilege of discussing his work on disasters & science education with Her Excellency Dame Susan Dogan, the Governor-General of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. In 2021, the La Soufrière volcano in St Vincent erupted the first time since 1979, causing 16,000 residents to evacuate. We discussed what such disruptions teach us about the nature of science and the role of scientists and engineers in society. As the former headmistress of a girl’s high school in St Vincent, Dame Susan sympathised with the importance of supporting teachers and working with them in reducing disaster risks through education.