Fife and Lothian trip in March 2010

Following a very successful visit last October, Nick Chidlaw is re-running this field trip. Possible dates are either Sunday 7th – Wednesday 10th or Sunday 21st – Wednesday 24th March 2010.
Please let Nick know which date you prefer by next Sunday - 6th December.
Tuition fee is £80.00 per person. Fees would not need to be paid until Sunday 31st January.
Click here for further details.

Careers Evening - 1st December

The Western Region of the Geological Society is holding a Careers Evening on Tuesday 1st December, 6.00 for 6.30pm
An introduction to careers in several areas of geoscience suitable for students, recent graduates or people in the early stages of their careers. Talks will be given by several accomplished geoscientists with a range of expertise and will be followed with an opportunity to network.
Speakers include:
• Dr Mary Benton, University of Bristol
• Andrew Lawrence, Mott MacDonald
• Dr Mike Board, Nuclear Technologies
• Nathan Littlewood, URS Corporation
• Finlay Booth, Mott MacDonald
The event will he 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
Click here for directions
Refreshments will be available from 6 pm.
In case of any query please contact the Convenor, Toby Hopkins.
Everyone is welcome.

Pembrokeshire 17 - 18 April 2010

There is a South west Geologists' Association trip to the Old Red Sandstone of South Pembrokeshire in April 2010 to be led by Dr. Brian Williams.
Accommodation has been arranged at the Fourcroft Hotel in Tenby at the special rate of £72.00 per person for dinner, bed and breakfast (twin-sharing basis). You will need to book before Christmas to take advantage of this offer! The Hotel will act as the HQ for the trip and all the maps, books, reprints, air photos and much more memorabilia on the ORS Research done in S. Pembs. will be on display in a dedicated room in the Hotel. Two recent ex-Ph.D. research
students on the ORS of S.Pembs - Rob Hillier and Lance Morrissey - will be in charge of this as well as helping in the field over the two-day trip.
Saturday 17th April
- Albion Sands, Marloes
- St. Brides Haven
- Little Castle Head
- Llanstadwell.
Meet at at 10.00 am from the main car park at Marloes - return to Hotel c.6.30 pm. for 7.30 pm.
Sunday 18th April
- Freshwater West
- Freshwater East
- Manorbier -
- Old Castle Head traverse
Meet at the main Freshwater West car park at 10.00 am. - trip ends in Manorbier c.6.00 pm.
A dedicated Guide Book for the Trip will be prepared by Brian.
Contact Steve Howe if you are interested.

Moon Rocks - tonight!

Don't forget the lecture 'Moon Rocks' this evening, organised by WEGA. It will be given by Professor Geoffrey Eglinton, a Professor Emeritus at Bristol and other places, who was one of the NASA researchers who examined the first rocks to come back from the moon 40 years ago.
The lecture will be held in the usual place - the Earth Sciences Lecture Theatre in the Wills Building - and at the usual time - 7:30. There will be a cheese and wine party afterwards.
Everyone is welcome.

Google Earth Shows Climate Change in Action

The University of Wales, Newport has produced a new learning resource that explores the use of Google Earth as a tool in exploring the impact of Climate Change on the planet.
The 'Sands of Time - A Google Earth approach to Climate Change Education' resource includes a free access online video and learning activities to help educationalists and climate change activists look at new ways of making use of the free Google Earth tool to explore the impact of climate change on a global scale.
This sees Newport's University combining two of its strengths - pioneering use of technology to develop educational resources and the championing of sustainable development and global citizenship.
The resource has been developed through collaboration between the University's Institute of Digital Learning and Professor Simon Haslett, Director of the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching.

Oxfordshire Geology Trust events

Sunday 22nd November - The Geology & Landscape of Shotover.
A guided walk in Shotover Hill Country Park led by Ivan Wright of Shotover Wildlife & the OGT.
From 2 — 3:30pm.
GR SP 564062.
This is a 2 mile, circular walk suitable for adults & children.
Meet in the carpark at the east end of Old Road, Headington.

Saturday 12th December - Quarry Visit to Wroxton Fields Quarry, NW of Banbury.
Guided visit led by Lesley Dunlop of the OGT.
From 10 — 12pm.
GR SP 403420. Just off the A422, signposted - quarry.
This is a large-scale Marlstone Quarry. The marlstone/ironstone is Lower Jurassic in age & rich in fossils. Collecting is permitted.
Please wear sensible footwear. Safety hats & luminous jackets will be provided.
Pre-booking is essential for this trip. Please contact Denise Dane on 01608 811604 or email

Lifelong Learning at Bristol

Click here to read about the sad demise of Life Long Learning (LL) courses at the University of Bristol. The article is written by Dr. Ted Nield editor of Geoscientist.
Please also read the comments on this post from Dr. Nick Chidlaw and Prof. Mike Benton. If you have something to add, please do so.

Your favourite sedimentary rocks

A message from Dr Jon Noad, Chair, BSRG: British Sedimentary Research Group
“I am conducting a survey to find out what are geologists' THREE favourite sedimentary formations in the UK. ANYTHING sedimentary (from Silurian limestone to Jurassic shales to Eocene sandstone to Quaternary tills and more) can be included.
Please email your answers (three formations per person).
Note: this is the correct email address, even though it seems unlikely!
Rocks must be from the UK simply to keep responses manageable.
I look forward very much to seeing your answers"

Gordano photograph - apologies

This photograph was reproduced in the post of 28th September without full acknowledgement. It is Gordano Valley, 2006 and was taken by Martin Boulton.