15th February - A Bug's Life

The Western Regional Group of The Geological Society would like to invite you to a Geological Society evening lecture, A Bug's Life: the Role of Micropalaeontology in Industrial Problem Solving, presented by Professor Malcolm Hart, University of Plymouth. This event is taking place next Tuesday evening (Tuesday 15th February).
Micropalaeontology, the study of microscopic fossils, has been used extensively for many years by the hydrocarbon industry for the stratigraphical correlation of rock successions, particularly in cores recovered from boreholes. However, many quarrying or engineering projects also require stratigraphical "control". Malcolm Hart, Emeritus Professor of Micropalaeontology at the University of Plymouth, together with David Carter and Professor Peter Fooke utilised micropalaentological techniques during the site investigation for the Thames Barrier, and in 1973-1974 and during the 1980s while working with TransManche Link on the construction of the Channel Tunnel. This talk demonstrates the importance of micropalaentology during the site investigation and construction works for major engineering projects, using these two leading UK engineering projects as examples.
Over a research career of 45 years Malcolm has published around 200 research papers and edited 8 books: one of which is the definitive work on the Channel Tunnel. He is a Chartered Geologist and a Chartered Scientist. From 2000 to 2005 he served on the Council of English Nature and is closely involved with the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and the English Riviera Geopark. He has recently been awarded Honorary Membership of The Micropalaeontological Society and the Jean Baptiste Lamarck Medal of the European Geosciences Union for 2011.
The lecture will start at 6.30pm, but please feel free to come and have a few sandwiches and a chat with colleagues from 6.00pm. There is no charge for the event and non members are welcome. The lecture will be held in the S H Reynolds Lecture Theatre (Room G25), Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queen's Road, Bristol BS8 1RJ.