Oct. 1st
Professor Peter Burgess, University of Liverpool
Presidential Address: Rocking the Geoscience Boat:
Using Numerical Models to Challenge the Status Quo.
Oct. 15th
Professor Nick Smith, National Nuclear Laboratory
Nuclear Power and the loudest noise ever recorded.
During daylight hours, Nick Smith is Head of University Engagement at the UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL), a role he took on in 2020, prior to which he was NNL’s lead geologist for over 15 years. A former Royal Society Industry Fellow, Nick has been NNL Fellow in geology and remote laser sensing for the last 10 years through which he continues to collaborate with universities (including Liverpool where Nick is Visiting Prof) leading and undertaking research on interesting geological issues. During this talk Nick will explore the geological knowledge and understanding that is required to underpin the siting, construction, operation, decommissioning and disposal of nuclear sites in the UK. The loudest noise ever recorded was not actually played by the rock band Nick used to be in, but what on earth has it got to do with the most important subject in nuclear? Come and find out!
Oct. 22nd
Professor Paul Barrett, Natural History Museum
The lives of giant dinosaurs
The biology of life at extreme size – touching on the issue of life spans.
| Geology of early ceramics Dr Peter Hommel from the Department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology is an archaeological scientist specialising in the study of ancient technologies and materials with extensive research expertise in the archaeology of northern Eurasia and a passion for public engagement. The title of Dr Hommel’s lecture is: How clay and human societies connect and how geology has helped us address some key questions about human development |
Nov. 12th
Doctor Dave McNamara, University of Liverpool
Exploring the mid Atlantic Ridge
In a 2 month expedition in the summer of 2023, the International Ocean Discovery Program drilled a transect of wells perpendicular to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. A team of international scientists, including Dr David McNamara from the University of Liverpool, went to sea for eight weeks aboard the JOIDES Resolution, where they worked in its floating laboratory to analyse drillcore of contourite drift sediments draped across the Atlantic seafloor, as well as investigate the basaltic lavas forming the top of the Atlantic Oceanic crust. Dr McNamara will talk about his experience on this remarkable scientific expedition and present some of the team’s early findings on when Arctic waters first entered the Atlantic Oceans and how the basaltic Atlantic crust has hydrothermally interacted with the ocean over the last ~60 million years.
Nov. 19th
Chris Suddick, Altrincham and District Astronomical Society
How to measure the Universe
The talk looks at the different tools that we have used over the years to measure the Earth, the solar system, the stars and the galaxies. We then look at the methods at our disposal to implement these tools with practical examples to see them in action. The main focus is on the Earth and Moon as these are the most accessible to the amateur with no sophisticated equipment required.
