Celebrating Croll: Who was James Croll?

James Croll is one of those remarkable Victorian characters who made a fundamental contribution to our current understanding of science, but who is now all but forgotten except in specialist circles.

James Croll

Coming from a modest rural background near Perth, Croll was largely self-taught through reading, his enthusiasm for learning sparked by The Penny Magazine of The Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge.

For much of his life he struggled with illness, and he held a succession of different jobs, from millwright to shopkeeper to insurance salesman. It was in 1859, when he became a janitor at the Anderson College in Glasgow and gained access to its extensive library, that he became actively involved in pushing the boundaries of glaciology.

His first paper on glacial epochs was published in 1864, and in 1875 he published the landmark Climate and Time, the distillation of his theory of ice ages and Earth’s orbit. In all, he wrote dozens of scientific papers, amongst other things explaining global oceanic circulation, calculating the age of the sun, developing a theory of evolution, and remarkably presciently predicting the thickness of the unexplored Antarctic Ice Sheet.

“I remember well that, before I could make headway in physical astronomy,… I had to go back and study the laws of motion and fundamental principles of mechanics. In like manner I studied pneumatics, hydrostatics, light, heat, electricity and magnetism. I obtained assistance from no-one. In fact there were none of my acquaintances who knew anything whatever about these subjects.” - James Croll

The Celebrating Croll appeal launched last week. The RSGS is aiming to rejuvenate the outdoor space and the interpretation panels in our visitor and education centre in the Fair Maid's House., to give visitors more to see, maximise the space available to visiting groups, and to celebrate the legacy of James Croll.

Read more about the campaign, and how you can help.

Earth Science Education Scotland Campaign

The Royal Scottish Geographical Society is backing a new campaign to promote, extend and maintain the level of Earth science content in Scottish high schools.

Earth Science Education Scotland

Earth Science Education Scotland is a wide group of people who are interested in Earth science in Scotland. Supported by the RSGS, they have come together due to concern at the very low content of Earth science in the Scottish schools’ curriculum.

Earth Science Education Scotland are currently lobbying the Scottish Government, Education Scotland, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) to ensure that the planned cessation of the Higher geology certificate in 2015 is postponed until a new Earth science Higher is created. A recent survey undertaken by the group has demonstrated the enthusiasm for teaching the subject at higher level in Scottish schools.

Find out more about Earth Science Education Scotland by visiting the campaign website, which explains the background to the campaign.

http://www.earthscienceeducationscotland.com

Geology in Verse - book of poetry by RSGS Member

An RSGS member, Norma Allan, has produced a book of humorous poems on geology called Geology in Verse.  Here Norma explains the book and its genesis.

“My book consists of 25 poems covering a wide range of topics ranging from schistosity and solifluction to granite, volcanoes and earthquakes.  Each poem is accompanied by text and photos provided by Angus Miller, an Open Studies geology tutor at Edinburgh University. There are also short pieces on famous figures of geology and a few witty geo quips from various sources."

Norma Allan: Geology in Verse

“For those unfamiliar with geology, my book is a great introduction to some of the basics and an enormously enjoyable way to learn a bit about the subject.  Through the word-play and humour are woven accurate facts on each topic, and the accompanying texts are user-friendly without much complex detail."

“I first started writing poems on geology when I was studying it as part of a training as a Blue Badge Scottish Tourist Guide.  I was captivated by the language, as I hope you will be.”

Cost:  £10.00 per copy + pp £2.00   Please contact Norma  if you would like a copy sent to you: norma@snowgoose.eu               

Royal Scottish Geographical Society Logo

Professor Iain Stewart receives award from American Geophysical Union

The Society's President, Professor Iain Stewart, was awarded with the Athelstan Spilhaus award by the American Geophysical Union.

The Athelstan Spilhaus Award is awarded not more than once annually to an individual AGU member for devoting portions of their career to conveying to the general public the excitement, significance, and beauty of the Earth and space sciences. Outreach activities may be through books, essays, newspaper articles, speeches, films or photographic displays, exhibits, radio or television pieces, interviews, web sites, or other media; the goal being to reach wide audiences and enhance public understanding in settings distinct from formal education. Robert H. Eather was the first recipient of the Spilhaus Award in 2006.

Iain Stewart is Professor of Geoscience Communications at Plymouth University. Image (c) Plymouth University.

Professor Stewart is well known for the films he has made with the BBC, including Rise of the Continents, How Earth Made Us and Earth: The Power of the Planet. He has been President of the RSGS since February 2012.

AGU formally recognised the 2013 Union Awardees, Medalists, and Prize recipient during their Honors Tribute, held at the Fall Meeting in San Francisco, California on 11th December.

Established in 2003, the Spilhaus Award is named in honor of geophysicist and meteorologist Athelstan F. Spilhaus Sr. who enthusiastically made innovative contributions to science, education, and public service. He was a scientist, inventor, innovator, cartoonist, and leader in the geosciences community. His outreach to the general public included an informative science center at the 1961 Seattle World's Fari and "Our New Age," and a long-running science cartoon in some 100 Sunday newspapers throughout the US.

Stories in the Land: The Bedrock Walk

Setting off today, a small group of people are planning to walk together from Dalwhinnie to Glen Nevis; taking part in a mobile conference, an on-going conversation, a collaborative venture, a sharing of skills and points of view. 

This journey is called "The Bedrock Walk: a journey through geological time" and is part of the RSGS's Stories in the Land project.

The diverse group on the Bedrock Walk will include geologists, geographers, educators, writers, musicians and artists.  They will be following the Thieves' Road, which was used at a drove road and smugglers' path for centuries.

Using as its foundational idea the rock that underpins their journey, the multi-disciplinary group will share, learn, collect and create along the way. 

It’s impossible to predict outcomes, as in any walking journey, but they hope to generate new stories and explore some of the following questions (and more): 

• What stories, history, music, sound are ‘held’ or inspired by the rocks and stones and land.
• How was the landscape made and how does the geology determine what flourishes?
• Why it became an important route.
• The part played by human culture in the past and currently.
•  What does time mean in such a context, and what future might we imagine for the places we move through?
• How does the physicality and rhythm of walking for several days help us to access any of this?

Find out more about the Bedrock Walk, and the Stories in the Land project at www.storiesintheland.blogspot.co.uk

MSPs Discuss Future of Geology in Scottish Curriculum at Paliamentary Meeting

Geology outside, and inside, the Scottish Parliament Building.
Image © Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body – 2012. 
Licensed under the Open Scottish Parliament Licence v1.0.

We are delighted to report that the issue of retaining geology and earth sciences in the Scottish curriculum was discussed at a parliamentary meeting on Tuesday 21st.  

A number of the MSPs who attended a parliamentary lunch and presentation by sixth year pupils from Perth High on the 16th were impressed and added their voices to the call for geology to continue to be well represented in the curriculum.  

The decision has been made by the SQA to stop offering Higher geology as an examinable subject. The replacement qualification, environmental science, does not have much earth science content.  

Perth High pupils, supported by their teacher Rachel Hay, RSGS Education Officer Dr Joyce Gilbert, Professor Stuart Monro from Our Dynamic Earth, University of St Andrew's Dr Ruth Robinson, and RSGS President Professor Iain Stewart, presented their case for why they feel that geology should continue to feature strongly at senior level.

MSPs Liz Smith, Clare Adamson, Annabelle Ewing and Nanette Milne all referenced the presentation in a discussion about Public Science Engagement Initiatives.

After the page break please find extracts from the full meeting. The full text of the meeting can be found here. (45page pdf, discussion begins p7, geology p12)

Perth High Pupils argue the case for geology at Scottish Parliament

On Thursday 16 May Dr Joyce Gilbert, Education Officer at the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, arranged for the Higher Geology class at Perth High School to visit the Scottish Parliament to give a presentation to MSPs about what they had enjoyed about their year of studying Higher Geology. Their enthusiastic presentation provoked a fascinating discussion amongst the audience about the value of Geology (and Earth Sciences) in the Scottish curriculum, and raised concerns about the Scottish Qualification’s decision to remove the qualification from 2015. 

Perth High School pupils and their teacher Miss Hay outside the Scottish Parliament building.

The parliamentary visit was hosted by local MSP Liz Smith. The pupils were supported by  Dr Ruth Robinson, senior lecturer in Earth Sciences from St. Andrews University, Prof. Stuart Monro, Scientific Director at Our Dynamic Earth, their teacher Miss Hay, and, by video link, the RSGS’ President Prof. Iain Stewart, a geologist known for his presenting work on the BBC programmes Men Of Rock, How to Grow a Planet and Volcano Live.

Here is what some of the pupils said about their day: 

‘Having the opportunity to have our voices heard was great. The thought of not only speaking to MSPs, but trying to show them how great geology is was daunting. But with the support of two Doctors and two Professors, the day felt really professional!’

(Brooke Morran)

‘It was very beneficial to be able to interact with MSPs and to share our experiences of studying geology. I hope our presentation made as much impact on them today as studying geology has made on me this year.’ (Craig Davidson)

‘I greatly enjoyed visiting the Scottish parliament and experiencing First Ministers Question Time for myself. I was proud to be part of a group to speak in front of MSPs to fight for geology to be kept in the school curriculum.’ (Merlin Hillyer)

 ‘A very enjoyable day where the presentation was a great success. I enjoyed speaking and the ensuing discussion was very thought-provoking. A great end to a geological filled year!’ (Fraser Todd)

The students argued the case for ensuring that geology continues to be represented in the new Scottish curriculum to seven MSPs from across the parties. Attending were Liberal Democrat Wllie Rennie,  the SNP's Marco Biagi, Annabelle Ewing and Clare Adamson, Scottish Conservatives Nanette Milne and Liz Smith, and independent MSP Jean Urquart.

Geology has been dropped as an examinable subject within the shake up under Curriculum for Excellence, but this is not so much a lack of take up as arguably a lack of teacher training - there has been no geology in teacher training since 1985.  The replacement qualification Environmental Science does not have much Earth Science content. 

Brooke and Craig join the round table discussion with MSPs.

Scotland is one of the most geodiverse regions on the planet, and geologists are involved in work in petroleum, water resources, natural hazards, environmental problems and climate change.   Also, this decision comes at a time when other countries, including England, Japan, Norway and Australia are actually increasing the provision of Geology and Earth Science education.

The RSGS chief executive, Mike Robinson, has called on ministers to ensure that geology had a future in Scottish schools. “We are determined not to see this subject disappear from our schools, or be sliced and diced until there's nothing left,” he said. 

“There is a danger that this country, which has led the world in geology and geography, is turning its back on these practical and vital modern sciences through a simple lack of understanding.”

Liz Smith, Scottish Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland & Fife said:  “I was delighted to welcome pupils and teachers from Perth High School to the Scottish Parliament and to watch their first class presentation. It was clear from the pupils experiences that they had really enjoyed the their geology studies and had been able to visit a number of sites in Scotland as part of their project.   
 “Scotland is one of the most geodiverse countries in the world and is regarded by many as the cradle of modern geological thinking. “
Concerns have been expressed that the Scottish Qualifications Authority is to close Higher Geology as a subject for examination particularly given the importance of geology to earth sciences and the emerging industries in Scotland.”

Pupils show rock samples to Liz Smith, MSP.

Scotland Rocks - a Geology Conference for High School Students

The RSGS was behind Scotland Rocks, a conference for Higher Geology students, which took place in Perth on the 3rd and 4th March in Fife and Perth.


Scotland Rocks was  a two day conference for what could be the last group of Higher Geology students.  The RSGS  convened this conference of students, scientists and educationalists in Perth to highlight the threat to geology as an academic discipline. 

On Sunday, the students, who represented nearly every student currently studying Geology, were taken on a field trip to St Monans. The goals of the field excursion were to: identify key rocks types around St Monans, interpret depositional environments of sedimentary rocks, make a small geological map and find some geological treasure!

The field trip was led by staff from the University of St Andrews, GeoBus, University of Dundee, British Geological Survey and the Royal Scottish Geographical Society.

On Monday, the students were addressed by the well-known TV presenter and Scottish geologist, Professor Iain Stewart, who is President of the RSGS. They then took part in some fascinating workshops on Volcanoes, Tsunamis, Fossils, Communicating Earth Heritage and Studying Geology at University.  

Professor Iain Stewart with some of the Perth High School Geology students.

While the conference was organised by RSGS, the original call to action came from Perth High School, where current students are desperate to see that geology continues to be represented in the curriculum.


The RSGS chief executive, Mike Robinson, has called on ministers to ensure that geology had a future in Scottish schools. “We are determined not to see this subject disappear from our schools, or be sliced and diced until there's nothing left,” he said. 

“There is a danger that this country, which has led the world in geology and geography, is turning its back on these practical and vital modern sciences through a simple lack of understanding.” 

Students building an indoor geological map at Perth Concert Hall.

The conference was organised with the help of the Scottish Geodiversity Forum and the University of St Andrews' GeoBus, with workshops and representatives from Geopark Shetland, Perth Museum and Art Gallery, The University of Edinburgh, The University of Dundee and the University of St Andrews.

See the programme for Scotland Rocks here:

http://issuu.com/rsgspubs/docs/scotland_rocks_programme?mode=window

Prominent Geologist Stuart Monro shares his 'Life on the Rocks'.

Professor Stuart Monro, a celebrated geologist, science communicator and currently Scientific Director of Our Dynamic Earth, will be giving a presentation in Dumfries, Galashiels, Ayr and Helensburgh between the 25th and 28th February as part of this seasons Royal Scottish Geographical Society’s Inspiring People talks programme.

Stuart was instrumental in establishing Our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh, the science centre and visitor attraction opened in 1999, that aims to give a better public understanding of the processes that have shaped the earth.

Stuart Monro at Siccar Point in Berwickshire, famous for its geology.

In this talk, Stuart explores, as part of a personal journey, the evidence from various parts of the world for what we call plate tectonics, a scientific theory which describes the large scale motions of Earth's lithosphere or, for those of us without a science degree, the rigid outermost shell of a rocky planet. Although seemingly complicated Stuart is passionate about bringing science and understanding to the masses so this is a talk that all can enjoy.

The Dumfries talk has been kindly sponsored by Magnox Energy Solutions www.magnoxsites.co.uk.

Stuart also holds and has held numerous high profile scientific roles including President of the Royal Scottish Society of Arts, President of the Westmorland Geological Society and of the Edinburgh Geological Society. He has been co-Convenor of the Scottish Earth Science Education Forum since 2003, a voluntary group he helped establish to support a greater understanding of earth sciences in Scottish schools and colleges. In 2003 he was also appointed by Scottish Ministers to serve on the Scottish Science Advisory Council, a national forum which provides strategic advice to the Scottish Government on scientific issues.

Stuart’s presentation will take place at 7.30pm on the following evenings:

Dumfries: Monday 25th February in the Easterbrook Hall, The Crichton, Bankend Road, Dumfries, DG1 4TA. 

Borders: Tuesday 26th February in Scottish Borders Campus, Nether Road, Galashiels, TD1 3HE

Ayr: Wednesday 27th February in Council Chambers, Ayr Town Hall Sandgate Ayr Ayrshire KA7 1DA

Helensburgh: Thursday 28th February in Victoria Halls, Sinclair St,  Helensburgh, G84 8TU

Tickets are £8 for adults, free for under 18s, students and RSGS members. Tickets are available on the night from the venue. To find out more about the RSGS visit www.rsgs.org.

(These talks replaced the advertised talk by Mikael Strandberg.)

Our Dynamic Earth Founder Explores Tectonics in Kirkcaldy Talk

Professor Stuart Monro, a celebrated geologist, science communicator and currently Scientific Director of Our Dynamic Earth, will be giving a presentation in Kirkcaldy on 21^st January as part of this seasons Royal Scottish Geographical Society’s Inspiring People talks programme.

Stuart was instrumental in establishing Our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh, the science centre and visitor attraction opened in 1999, that aims to give a better public understanding of the processes that have shaped the earth.

In this talk, Stuart explores, as part of a personal journey, the evidence from various parts of the world for what we call plate tectonics, a scientific theory which describes the large scale motions of Earth's lithosphere or, for those of us without a science degree, the rigid outermost shell of a rocky planet. Although seemingly complicated Stuart is passionate about bringing science and understanding to the masses so this is a talk that all can enjoy.

This talk is part of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society’s Inspiring People talks programme. This talk has been kindly sponsored by Scottish Power.

Stuart Monro is passionate about bringing science and understanding to the masses.

Stuart also holds and has held numerous high profile scientific roles including President of the Royal Scottish Society of Arts, President of the Westmorland Geological Society and of the Edinburgh Geological Society. He has been co-Convenor of the Scottish Earth Science Education Forum since 2003, a voluntary group he helped establish to support a greater understanding of earth sciences in Scottish schools and colleges. In 2003 he was also appointed by Scottish Ministers to serve on the Scottish Science Advisory Council, a national forum which provides strategic advice to the Scottish Government on scientific issues.

Stuart’s presentation will take place on Monday 21^st January, at 7.30pm in the School of Midwifery, University of Dundee Fife Campus, 5 Forth Avenue, Kirkcaldy, KY2 5YS. £8 for adults, free for under 18s, students and RSGS members. Tickets are available on the night from the venue. To find out more about the RSGS visit www.rsgs.org.