David Phillips is head of the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Melbourne, Australia. He obtained a doctorate in geochemistry from Princeton University and has held prior positions with the De Beers Group and the Australian National University. Current research interests include volcanic systems in Australia and Kenya, diamonds and their host kimberlite volcanoes, and 40Ar/39Ar geochronology of young volcanoes. He has published more than 120 scientific articles on these and similar topics in international science journals. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author. View more opinion at CNN.