Monday 31 March 2014

April 3rd - 'Eruption of Eyjafjallajokull, Iceland, and the impacts of volcanic ash on aviation'

'The 2010 Eruption of Eyjafjallajokull, Iceland, and the impacts of volcanic ash on aviation'
Dr. Jeremy Phillips. reader in Physical Volcanology, School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol

The relatively moderate eruption of Eyjafjallajokull from March to May 2010 produced widespread dispersion of fine volcanic ash over Northern Europe resulting in airspace closure for six days and significant economic losses.
Further details from Bath Geological Society website
7.30 BRLSI, 16 Queen Square, Bath
Everyone welcome - visitors £4 - free refreshment

Eruption of Carbonatite lava from Tanzanian volcano

Tuesday 25 March 2014

Landslide in Washington State USA - March 2014

Bath and Nile Explorers - September 2014

'Bath and the Nile Explorers' - an update
Geography Adventure Group of the Bath Royal & Literary Institution (BRLSI) plans to commemorate the 150th anniversary of John Hanning Speke and Richard Francis Burton's encounter in Bath at the British Association meeting in 1864, and their explorations to find the source of the Nile.
There will be a commemorative event with lectures on 15th September 2014 (1pm-4.30pm) at the former Mineral Water Hospital (now the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases) in Bath, where Burton and Speke met 150 years ago. There will be a reception, exhibition, and lectures by Tom Mayberry from the Museum of Somerset and Peter Speke.
Tickets will be available from Bath Box Office nearer the time and we hope that you will be able to participate.
An exhibition is being prepared for the anniversary about the Nile explorers, their expeditions and their encounter in Bath. This exhibition can tour interested local communities and venues afterwards. It will comprise about 10 panels (A1 size). Finally, a commemorative booklet will be published by BRLSI in September - 'Bath and the Nile Explorers'. The BRLSI website has more details.

Friday 21 March 2014

26th March - Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology of the Coast of the Bristol Region

Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology of the Coast of the Bristol Region
Dr David Case   
7.30 pm
David is Associate Head (Civil Engineering) within the Department of Geography and Environmental Management at the University of the West of England. He is also the
author of the, recently published, Geologists' Association Guide “The Coast of the Bristol Region: Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology”.
The meeting will be held in the S H Reynolds Lecture Theatre, Dept. of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol.
Bath GS and WEGA Members are invited to attend free of charge.

Wednesday 19 March 2014

28th March - Somerset Quarries

Simon Carpenter  an expert in this area, has arranged special access to this quarry on Friday 28th March - please note the date – the meeting has been scheduled for Friday to resolve the access problems that led to its postponement last year.
A day exploring the Upper Triassic and Lower Jurassic rocks of the Somerton and Langport area, Somerset.
A number of working quarries in the Somerton and Langport areas of Somerset will be visited where rocks of predominantly Upper Triassic age are exposed. At Ashen Cross quarry these rocks are carefully extracted, cut and polished for ornamental purposes. The limestone contains a restricted invertebrate assemblage as well as occasional isolated marine reptile bones. There are also many interesting sedimentary features.
Lots of opportunities to collect and see some interesting geology.
Pub lunch or sandwiches.
You can sign up on the GA website  or phone the office on 020 7434 9298.

Sunday 16 March 2014

May 18th - Field trip to Beer and Beer Head, Dorset coast

Sunday May 18th
Cretaceous Rocks of Beer and Beer Head
Professor Malcolm Hart, University of Plymouth

Bath Geological Society is organising a coach trip for this West Country Geology field trip. Bookings for seats on the coach are being taken now - deadline April 3rd.
Contact the Field Trip Secretary for further information or to book.

Vast quantities of water inside the Earth?

A small, battered diamond found in the gravel strewn along a shallow riverbed in Brazil has provided evidence of a vast "wet zone" deep inside the Earth that could hold as much water as all the world's oceans put together. The water is not sloshing around inside the planet, but is held fast within minerals in what is known as the Earth's transition zone, which stretches from 410 to 660km (250-400 miles) beneath the surface.
Read more

Thursday 13 March 2014

Lifelong Learning 4 day course

Field Geology in South Shropshire Part 2 (independent course to Part 1)
Tutor: Dr Nick Chidlaw
Two weekends in June: 14th, 15th and 21st , 22nd
10.00 am – 5.00 pm each day


In this tract of the Welsh Borderland is found some of its most attractive scenery and varied geology. Part 2 examines Ordovician rocks and metalliferous ores close to the Powys border, highly fossiliferous Silurian limestones on Wenlock Edge, Old Red Sandstone near Ludlow, and Carboniferous rocks in roadstone quarries and former coal mines on Clee Hill.
No prior knowledge of the area or geology is assumed. Please note that you will need to make your own travel and accommodation arrangements, with meeting time and place to be confirmed.  
The course is organized through Cardiff University. It carries assessment, which is very difficult to fail!; attendees usually find assessment on these courses useful for consolidating what they have learned.
Tuition fee is £140.00 (Concessionary fee available £112.00). Enrolments can be made by ‘phoning 029 2087 0000 or see website.
For more information on course content and specific field locations, contact tutor.

Want to teach Geology? Read on - -

Teaching and Learning in Geoscience Education
Summer School training to teach Geology

 Do you have a degree containing geology?
 Are you a teacher or training to become one?
 Would you like to teach geology in your school or college?
If so, apply for the ‘Teaching and Learning in Geoscience Education’ modules at Keele University.
Click here for further details and an application form.

Saturday 8 March 2014

May 18th - Jurassic Coast at Beer and Beer Head - PLEASE BOOK NOW!

Geology in the West Country Field Trips
Sunday May 18th - Field trip to the  Jurassic Coast at Beer and Beer Head 
Professor Malcolm Hart of Plymouth University
PLEASE BOOK NOW! – AVAILABILITY LIMITED
We plan to travel by coach. It promises to be a great day out for yourself and friends to enjoy this stretch of coast, enjoy the sea air and do some geology with an expert on this area or simply come to enjoy the coast - the choice will be yours!
Book now with advance payment in order to secure seats on the coach by the deadline of 3 April 2014 so that we can then determine the size of coach required.
We will arrange a few convenient pick up points near to free parking en route from Bath
For further information contact:

Bath Geological Society


March 11th - Arid and Desert Soils and Palaeolithic Archaeology

Western Region GS - Arid and Desert Soils: Engineering Geology and Geotechnics
Tuesday 11 March

The talk will combine both engineering geology and geotechnical insights and will be of interest to a wide range of geo-specialists. Andrew and Rob will provide a general background to soil types worldwide, emphasising the influence of geology and climate (past and present) on the development of soil types in arid climates. Examples will be drawn from various locations including Central Asia, Southern and North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula describing the development of distinctive landforms.  The engineering behaviour of these soils is strongly influenced by the effects of climate and various types of challenging engineering behaviour will be described.  The talk will show the benefits obtained by collaboration between the geo-disciplines when working with these potentially difficult soils.
The event is open to non-fellows, so please feel free to invite your colleagues or friends.
6.30p.m. Dept Earth Sciences, Wills Memorial Building, University of Bristol

WEGA - Lower and Middle Palaeolithic Archaeology
Dr Nick Ashton from the British Museum
7.30 p.m. Dept Earth Sciences, Wills Memorial Building, University of Bristol

Do you know about Futurelearn?

Futurelearn is a network of UK universities offering free online courses, and there is one coming up on Moons starting on 17th March, for 8 weeks - they estimate about 3 hours of study a week. 
Each week a series of lectures and/or articles is put up on the web, and you can access as and when you choose.  There is a quiz at the end, but there is no requirement to do this - or indeed to do any parts that don't interest you.
Visit the website for more information

Friday 7 March 2014

No plate tectonics in GCSE Science? Please help!

The new draft for the Science KS4 (GCSE) curriculum contains no plate tectonics. Plate tectonics is included in the KS3 (11 - 14 year-olds) Geography curriculum but only as the explanation for a number of geographical phenomena worldwide and not as a process that should be scientifically investigated and understood in its own right. A scientific understanding of plate tectonics provides the ‘unifying theory’ which pulls rock cycle processes, together with other global processes, into an understanding of the whole Earth machine. Thus plate tectonics provides a holistic understanding of Earth processes and the scientific principles that underpin them, forming the basis of an understanding of the Earth as dynamic complex and interacting systems.
Only through studying this and its underpinning scientific principles, can a proper understanding be gained of the elements of Earth science currently included in both the National Curriculum science at KS3 and the draft KS4 curriculum. Since plate tectonic theory is so central to Earth science understanding, it is not surprising that it has formed a key part of the science curriculum until now.
Please can you help to reverse this current proposal of excluding plate tectonic theory from the new GCSE Science National Curriculum by writing to your MPs and generally lobbying anyone who might influence the situation.

Thursday 6 March 2014

Job opportunity - Gloucester Geology Trust

There is an employment  opening at  the Gloucestershire Geology Trust based in Gloucester.
We require a person for 1-2 days a week to help run the office and lead on a few part time areas of work. The role would pay at the equivalent of £24,000/yr but on a self employed basis.  The majority of the work would be on their own but with the support and help of a dozen or so others. It would be based in our office in  Gloucester and involve a fair bit of outdoor work. It has the potential to expand into a  full-time role if the person is successful in fundraising !!!!
We require someone who is both geologically competent as well as a good organiser and self motivated. They would need to be located in or very close to the County and
have some familiarity with the local area.
For further info please contact Mark.

The Stonehenge Phosphatic Chalk - TODAY!

Bath Geological Society lecture this evening by Prof. Rory Mortimer
Today, 7.30 p.m. BRLSI 16 Queen Square, Bath
Everyone welcome - visitors £4 - free refreshments