Volcanoes have always given rise to powerful emotions. They simultaneously fascinate and frighten those who live on their slopes when they erupt. Approximately 1.1 billion people live or lived within 100 km of active volcanoes that erupted in the last 10,000 years. Many eruptions, especially explosive ones, might occur without giving a clue of upcoming disaster. Volcanologists still strive to accurately forecast the likelihood, magnitude, and style of eruptions. This presentation offers cases of cohabitation between people and active volcanoes, the related pros and cons, and how modern volcanology offers information to thriving 21st-century societies facing the impact of climate change on a regional to global scale. In-class demonstrations, rocks, and slides will be presented.