Hertfordshire Geological Society

Below the Bonnie Banks - investigating Lock Lomond's subaqueous Quaternary landscape
2022-12-15 19:30 - 21:00 UTC | over Zoom
given by Dr. Andrew Finlayson (Quaternary Geologist, BGS Edinburgh)
Abstract:
Loch Lomond is an iconic part of Scotland’s scenery, spanning landscapes of both Highland and Lowland character on either side of the Highland Boundary Fault. From a Quaternary geological perspective, the wider Loch Lomond basin has a long history of research and forms a type area for a period of environmental change at the end of the last glacial cycle in Britain – the ‘Loch Lomond Stadial’. However, there is still relatively little known about the submerged landscape below the loch surface. This talk will give a brief overview of the Quaternary landscape evolution around Loch Lomond and then present new findings from multibeam bathymetry and shallow seismic profiles. We will look at how these data add the loch’s glacial and postglacial story, and also what they tell us about more recent processes such as subaqueous landslides associated with shoreline infrastructure.
View this talk in the Members’ Section.

GA Lecture
2023-01-06 18:00 - 19:30 | over Zoom
The Lower Cretaceous ‘East Lindsey Group’ a jewel in the geological crown of Lincolnshire given by Paul Hildreth (Yorkshire Geological Society)

Ocean sediments tell the story of Palaeogene environmental change
2023-01-12 19:30 - 21:00 | over Zoom
given by Prof Bridget Wade (Department of Earth Sciences, University College London)
Abstract:
Numerous oceanic, climatic, and biotic conditions relating to biogeochemical cycles and environmental change impact the composition and distribution of deep- sea sediments. Utilising the extensive sediment archives of the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) and its predecessors, maps of deep-sea sediment type have been assembled across two critical boundaries in the Paleogene, one characterised by an interval of extreme warmth (Paleocene/Eocene) and the other by global cooling (Eocene/Oligocene). Ocean sediment distribution shows significant divergence both between the latest Paleocene and Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), across the Eocene- Oligocene Transition (EOT), and in comparison to modern sediment distributions. In the latest Paleocene, carbonate sedimentation extends to high southern latitudes. Disappearance of carbonate sediments at the PETM is well documented and can be attributed to dissolution caused by significant ocean acidification as a result of carbon-cycle perturbation. Biosiliceous sediments are rare and it is postulated that the lowered biogenic silica deposition at the equator is due to an absence of equatorial upwelling in the early Paleogene ocean. In the Southern Ocean, we attribute the low in biosiliceous burial, to the warm deep water temperatures which would have impacted biogenic silica preservation. Our sediment depositional maps record a tongue of radiolarian ooze in the late Eocene eastern equatorial Pacific. Enhanced biosiliceous deposits in the late Eocene equatorial Pacific and Southern Ocean are due to increased productivity and the spin-up of the oceans. The compilation documents the enhanced global carbonate sedimentation in the early Oligocene, confirming that the drop in the carbonate compensation depth was global.
View this talk in the Members’ Section.

GA Lecture
2023-02-03 18:00 - 19:30 | over Zoom
Winchcombe meteorite
given by Dr Ashley King (Natural History Museum)

Clays!
2023-02-09 19:30 - 21:00 | over Zoom
given by Prof. Peter Scott (Emeritus Professor, Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter)
Abstract:
Clay minerals, such as kaolinite, illite and montmorillonite, are the essential components of clays. Their crystals are very small and they have variable amounts of disorder in their structure. They impart a plasticity to clays. Their properties also make them very useful raw material for industry, including construction, ceramics, paper, paint, oil clarification, metal casting, cat litter and even high level nuclear waste disposal. This presentation will review the properties of clays and illustrate examples of their geology and uses from the UK and elsewhere.
View this talk in the Members’ Section.

Little heath Geoconservation Working Party
2023-02-18 10:00 - 16:00 | Little Heath, Potten End, Potten End, United Kingdom
Annual activity to remove vegetation and clean-up the exposure at Little Heath

Building Stone walk in Aylesbury & visit Discover Bucks Museum
2023-03-25 10:00 - 16:30 | Waterside Theatre, Exchange Street, Aylesbury, Hertfordshire, HP20 1UG
Meet outside Aylesbury Waterside Theatre (HP20 1UG) 10:00 for 10:15 departure
– best parking is in Waterside Multi-Story Car Park (HP20 1AL) on level 2 or 3
Itinerary
Morning: 2 1/2 hour walk through the old town centre of Aylesbury
Lunch: at the Kings Head which is owned by the National Trust
Afternoon: Discover Bucks Museum – in particular the new Geology display
Finish: mid afternoon 15:30/16:00
Please contact Nick Pierpoint at nicpierpoint@aol.com to reserve a place

Percy Evans Lecture: The Norber Erratics
2023-04-27 19:30 - 21:00 | Hartoak Room, Mansion House, Oaklands College, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL4 0XS, United Kingdom
given by Clive Maton (Honorary President, HGS)
Abstract
The Norber Erratics are well known and are featured in geological text books and numerous local guides to the Yorkshire Dales. This is partially due to their large size, the very large numbers, and all being located in a relatively small area; but they are best known for their emplacement on Carboniferous Limestone pedestals.They have been the subject of much study. The first scientific papers were published in the late 19th Century and many more have described and discussed them in the last 150 years. My study of them started as they were included in the area of my Map & Thesis, which formed part of my Geology degree, and I have continued to visit the area for post graduate field work. This, together with my recent research on the source and flow of the erratics, form the basis of the lecture.
View this talk in the Members’ Section.

Visions of Nature. Art, science and natural history museums
2023-05-11 19:30 - 21:00 | Oaklands College, Sapsed Room (SR), Oaklands College, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL4 0XS, United Kingdom
given by Prof. Paul Smith (Director University of Oxford, Natural History Museum).
Abstract

In an era of polarised opinion and a difficulty in determining the veracity of information, science museums play an important role as ‘honest brokers’ in both enabling and encouraging public debate around science. Surveys on both side of the Atlantic have demonstrated that museums are amongst the most trusted providers of information, but first they need audiences to discuss and debate with.
For the last few years, Oxford University Museum of Natural History has been operating an innovative series of exhibitions entitled Contemporary Science & Society. Each exhibition is an interdisciplinary investigation of an aspect of current science research and interweaves the scientific storytelling with related contemporary art that enhances the audience appeal. The exhibition is, however, only a starting point for a broader programme of events that range from lectures and debates to more informal science fairs, art interventions and comedy nights. Audiences for each exhibition range up to 245,000 and both qualitative and quantitative evaluation show that the content has had the ability to change people’s decision-making and behaviours.
The lecture will examine a variety of recent exhibitions, the range of issues that the exhibition series is seeking to address, and the role of a natural history museum in modern society.

View this talk in the Members’ Section.

'Puddingstone Peregrination'
2023-05-13 10:30 - 16:30 | St Mary’s Church, Standon, High Street, Standon, Hertfordshire, SG11 1LA, United Kingdom
Meeting at 10.30 at the ‘Standon Stone’ near the church in Standon village ( O.S. TL 396223 ). Sandwiches and coffee can be picked up at Day’s bakery in the village. Then to the newly discovered ‘William Smith’s HPS mounting block’ mentioned in 1819!! We will then look at HPS boulders at various sites along the A120 to Bishops Stortford.
Including the HPS boulder described by Chris Green now at Hadham Ford (where we will have lunch), The Hadham Hall boulder which features in a ‘Work of Art’. The collection of boulders at Wickham Hall, where we will discuss the erosion and formation of HPS boulders over coffee.
To register for this trip please e-mail mehowgate@hotmail.com.

The Moine Thrust Controversy
2023-06-08 19:30 - 21:00 | Oaklands College, Sapsed Room (SR), Oaklands College, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL4 0XS, United Kingdom
given by Dr. Peter Gutteridge (Director, Cambridge Carbonates)
Abstract:
The NW Highlands of Scotland probably has the best scenery and geology in the world. You can find the oldest rocks in the British Isles, the first evidence of life, ancient landscapes carved out by preCambrian rivers and beautifully exposed Lower Palaeozoic clastic and carbonate sediments. These all form part of a major fold and thrust belt on which the metamorphosed Moine schists were emplaced.
However, geologist Roderick Impy Murchison saw this as a conformable succession. It is worth asking the question, why did Victorian geologists so completely miss evidence that is so obvious to geologists today? The answers lie in the state of geological science at the time, geopolitics and social climbing. Resolution of the Moine thrust controversy was a turning point in the history of geology gave us the foundations of the science of geology as we now know it.
View this talk in the Members’ Section.

Charnwood Forest
2023-06-10 10:00 - 17:00 | Charnwood Forest, Charnwood, LE12 9XJ, United Kingdom
Following interest expressed at the last HGS meeting (Oct) we’ve been in touch with John Carney (ret BGS) and he is willing to lead an HGS trip to Charnwood Forest.
For a reasonably compact visit-site, with all facilities and good scenery, even Tudor history Bradgate Park provides a great opportunity to potentially find evidence of ancient volcanoes, igneous intrusions, earthquakes, and tsunamis can be found together. We will start at the Hunt’s Hill entrance clearly marked on the Bradgate Park Find Us webpage.

More details will be provided in the May Chalk Board. Meet up at Hunters Hill 10:00 – 10:15, picnic of café for lunch and a selection of great tea shops in Newton Linford to relax at the end of the day. Good paths – undulating walk 5 km.
To register for this trip please e-mail nicpierpoint@aol.com

Magmatic systems and the energy transition
2023-07-13 19:30 - 21:00 | Oaklands College, Sapsed Room (SR), Oaklands College, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL4 0XS, United Kingdom
given by Prof. Jonathan Blundy (Royal Society Research Professor, University of Oxford)
Abstract:
The transition to Net Zero will place unprecedented demand on natural resources requiring some new thinking about where to find them and how to extract them. In this talk I will explore the potential for magmatic systems, such as those beneath volcanoes, to provide accessible sources of both geothermal power and a diversity of metals including many that are essential for the energy transition. I will draw upon new research in volcanology, igneous petrology, economic geology and high-pressure and temperature experiments.
View This Talk In The Members’ Section.

Notes from Deep Time – A journey through past and future worlds
2023-09-14 19:30 - 21:00 | Oaklands College, Sapsed Room (SR), Oaklands College, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL4 0XS, United Kingdom
given by Helen Gordon, (University of Hertfordshire & author of Notes from Deep Time).
An exploration of the world of deep time and what it means to be human within the context of 4.5 billion years. From stratigraphers, volcanologists and palaeontologists to writers, artists and semioticians, this talk will draw on a series of conversations with the men and women who live and work in deep time.
View this talk in the Members’ Section.

GA Lecture via Zoom
2023-10-06 18:00 - 20:30 | over Zoom
Gold Mining and the Welsh Connection given by Mark Austin, Alba Mineral Resources PLC

A short history of buildings in six stones
2023-10-12 19:45 - 21:00 | Hartoak Room, Mansion House, Oaklands College, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL4 0XS, United Kingdom
given by Dr. Tim Yates, (Technical Director, Building Research Establishment, Garston.

Doors open at 7:15pm, tea & coffee available, talk starts at 7:45pm.

Many will be familiar with Neil MacGregor’s ‘A history of the world in 100 objects’ that retell humanity’s history through the objects we have made. This talk is on a much smaller scale with just six objects – all natural stones! But hopefully they will help us to see how our built heritage, our built landscapes, our towns, cities and villages, are shaped by the natural stones used in their construction.
Along the way we’ll look at the links to geography, society, technology, and politics – and, of course, the geology of the rocks from which the stones were taken.
Why six stones? Well there’s no real reason but six felt about right in the time we have! And choice of the six – Caen Limestone, Clunch, Portland Limestone, Welsh Slate, York Sandstone, and Aberdeen Granite – includes some of the most important building stones found in the UK but is also a personal choice that reflects my background and my work at Building Research Establishment for the last 37 years.

HGS Warwickshire Field Trip
2023-10-14 12:00 - 2023-10-15 17:00 | The Gret Western Arms, Station Road, Blockley, Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 9DT
We have a day and a half in the field planned with the help of the Warwickshire Geo-Conservation Group. The outline schedule is as follows:
Saturday morning
Drive to the village of Blockley in the Cotswolds
Lunch (TBC) – The Great Western Arms
Saturday afternoon
Northcot Brick Works to visit the Blockley Brickpit

We will be met by Dale Moss – Works manager. Lower Jurassic (Charmouth Formation) led by Dr. Jon Radley (Warwick Museum).
This is a very fossiliferous site and the WGCG made a video of a previous visit – view that here.
It will be muddy!
Saturday evening
Find your own overnight B&B accommodation in the Stratford on Avon, Evesham and Warwick area.

Possible dinner meet up
Sunday all day
Meet with Dr. Stuart Burley (University of Keele) at Inkberrow, followed by Henley in-Arden & the Grand Union canal to study the Triassic (Carnian) Arden Sandstone. A recent Geology Today article for this is available from Haydon if you’d like one.
If you’re interested in attending this trip, then please notify Haydon as soon as possible at haydonbailey@outlook.com .

Geologist's Association Festival of Geology
2023-11-04 | University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom

From shallow mine workings to deep basement rocks: A tour of UK low temperature geothermal resources
2023-11-09 19:30 - 21:00 | over Zoom
given by Dr. Cat Hirst (Senior Engineering Geologist, COWI, Glasgow)
From shallow mine workings to deep basement rocks: A tour of UK low temperature geothermal resources
Catherine M. Hirst1, Sally Jack1,2
1COWI UK Ltd, Fifth Floor, 310 St Vincent Street, Glasgow, G2 5RG.
2University of Strathclyde, 16 Richmond St, Glasgow, G1 1XQ, UK.
The UK has committed to be net zero by 2050 via the signing of the 2015 Paris Agreement and 2021 Glasgow Climate Pact. Space heating in the UK accounts for 42% of UK energy demand, and natural gas is used to provide more than 90% of this heating and cooling demand. De-carbonising heat, therefore, has the potential to make a huge impact on the UK’s net zero aspirations.
Over the past 25 years, research into geothermal energy extraction from low enthalpy (temperature) resources within the UK has been increasing year-on-year. Whilst historically the UK has only ever had one working low temperature deep geothermal system (Southampton), there is scope for geothermal energy to make a significant contribution to the UK energy portfolio. More recently, focus has fallen on the shallow (typically <500 m depth) geothermal systems associated with old, abandoned mine workings. Our understanding of these systems is incomplete in the same way we have limited knowledge of the deep (>500 m depth) subsurface, but what sets shallow resources apart from deeper resources is their accessibility. This talk aims to cover the background to geothermal heat generation, the key differences between shallow and deep low temperature geothermal resources, provide examples of deep low temperature resources in the UK and to showcase the work currently being completed by the University of Strathclyde and COWI to better characterise mine water geothermal resources.
View this talk in the Members’ Section.

Dinosaurs: New Visions of a Lost World
2023-12-12 19:30 - 21:00 | over Zoom
given by Prof. Mike Benton (Professor of Vertebrate Palaeontology, University of Bristol)

Twenty-five years ago, the first feathered dinosaur was reported, Sinosauropteryx. There has been a revolution in dinosaur palaeobiology since then, driven by thousands of amazing specimens from China plus new analytical methods.
In 2010, we were among the first to develop a new analytical method to identify the colour of feathers, including the feathers of dinosaurs. Suddenly the ancient world came to life!
Since then, the methods have been criticised, tested, and applied to many exceptional fossils of dinosaurs and birds, and the plumage colours and patterns reconstructed. These methods are scientific, meaning they can be tested (and so far they have withstood critical testing), and they make definite predictions about the colours of dinosaurs and other extinct animals.
Order a copy here: https://bit.ly/DinosaursNewVisions
More information:
https://thamesandhudson.com/dinosaurs-new-visions-of-a-lost-world-9780500052198
https://dinocolour.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/
View this talk in the Members’ Section.

Outcrops & Subsurface examples of the EoCambrian petroleum system in Oman
2024-01-11 19:30 - 21:30 | over Zoom
Talk by Professor Stuart Harker, Retired.
Southern Oman has one of the oldest working petroleum systems in the world with source rocks, reservoirs and productive traps in the Huqf Supergroup (520-600mya). There are superb world class outcrops of these sediments exposed along the Indian Ocean coast and in the inland salt diapir province. Reservoirs range in depositional environment from glacial clastics to peritidal stromatolitic carbonates. Petroleum traps range from conventional tilted fault blocks and anticlines, through salt induced anticlines to rafted carbonates and silicilyte. In spite of over 70 years of exploration, there remain many opportunities to discover additional reservoirs and traps.
View This Talk In The Members’ Section.

The Thames in Hertfordshire and adjacent areas
2024-02-08 19:30 - 21:30 | over Zoom
Talk by Professor David Bridgland, University of Durham.
Hertfordshire would seem to be the only one of the Home Counties to have been abandoned by the Thames during the Quaternary. It was squarely on the Thames course prior to southward diversion of the river ~450,000 years ago, the result of Britain’s most extensive glaciation. The evidence for the erstwhile Hertfordshire Thames will be pieced together during the lecture, with comparison made with neighbouring areas that have also furnished parts of the story and have supplied more recent refinements.
View This Talk In The Members’ Section.

Annual General Meeting
2024-03-14 19:45 - 21:30 | Oaklands College, Sapsed Room (SR), Oaklands College, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL4 0XS, United Kingdom
AGM will be followed by refreshments after which members are invited to share slides on the theme of 50 years of HGS in the field!

Percy Evans Lecture: Surfing the Waves of Time: Exploring Latin America's Passive Margins with an Innovative Sea Level Curve
2024-04-11 19:45 - 21:30 | Oaklands College, Sapsed Room (SR), Oaklands College, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL4 0XS, United Kingdom
Dr. Douwe van der Meer, CNOOC International, Uxbridge
Abstract: Recent exploration efforts in South American passive margin basins, such as the Guyana-Suriname Basin, have yielded significant success with over 10+ Bboe discovered, primarily within the late Cretaceous play/mega-sequence. Most recently the Southern Atlantic margin, spanning Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina, has also garnered industry attention, particularly following discoveries at the conjugate margin of Namibia.
In an award-winning study by Van der Meer et al. (2022), plate tectonic eustasy estimates were updated using the 87Sr/86Sr record of seawater, coupled with a novel glacio-eustasy estimates based on a recent Phanerozoic paleotemperature model (Scotese et al., 2021). This innovative Tectono-Glacio-Eustatic (TGE) curve for the entire Phanerozoic correlates well with mega-sequence stratigraphy in global passive margin basins.
Examining key basins like Guyana, the TGE curve aligns with the mega-sequences, showcasing the influence of plate tectonic and glacio-eustatic drivers on the petroleum system. The petroleum system elements in deepwater, correlate well with predictable patterns.
Similarly, southern Atlantic basins also exhibit predictable elements of the drift play (post-Aptian), with the TGE curve serving as a tool for undrilled sections of the stratigraphy. This research underscores the interplay between plate tectonics, glacio-eustasy, and basin evolution, offering valuable insights for future and ongoing exploration endeavours.
Biography: Douwe van der Meer, a tectonophysicist by background, and seasoned explorationist by profession, earned his M.Sc. at Utrecht University in 2002, specializing in plate tectonic processes. Following a transformational sabbatical at the Norwegian Geological Survey in 2009, he continued research on plate tectonics, which led to a Ph.D. cum laude in 2017 and was recently honoured with the IAGR Best Paper award and medal. With over 20 years of experience at Shell, Nexen, and CNOOC, Douwe has led various exploration New Ventures teams, being based in the Netherlands, UK, and USA. A passionate Earth System enthusiast, Douwe’s work and research encompasses all continents and eras from the Archean to Cenozoic. Currently serving as Sr. Manager New Ventures Latin America at CNOOC International, Douwe continues to contribute his research expertise to the industry. His commitment to advancing understanding of Earth Systems, coupled with significant applications to the oil and gas sector, establishes him as subject matter expert in global exploration.
View This Talk In The Members’ Section.

Identification and implications of the London Clay Formation divisions from an engineering perspective
2024-05-09 19:45 - 21:30 | Oaklands College, Sapsed Room (SR), Oaklands College, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL4 0XS, United Kingdom
Dr. Jamie Standing, Imperial College London
Abstract: Historically, engineers viewed the London Clay (LC) Formation as uniform, homogeneous and rather uninteresting. Chris King’s seminal work provided a much deeper insight into the characteristics of the LC and how it can be split into divisions, based on the depositional history of the formation and the microfauna present. LC water content profiles were compiled from continuous cores as part of an investigation into variations in tunnelling-induced settlements across St James’s Park, allowing distinct zones to be identified. These were found to coincide exactly with the divisions identified by Chris King almost twenty years earlier. Water content profiles can be developed as part of a ground investigation and used to help establish the boundaries between King’s divisions. Based on two further water content profiles from Hyde Park and St John’s Wood a new methodology for locating the boundaries of the divisions, involving a trend-line for sub-Division A3, is proposed and tested, relevant to conditions in central London. In developing the method, significant differences in the elevation of the divisions between the three sites is observed, suggesting geological processes such as folding or faulting have influenced the LC along the 5-km length of the section. Once the boundaries of the LC divisions are known, geotechnical engineers have a greatly improved overall understanding of the ground conditions and how the ground will respond to engineering works such as tunnelling and deep excavations. Broad engineering implications of the divisions are described and discussed, citing case histories where possible.
View This Talk In The Members’ Section.

Fossils and the history of life course
2024-06-07 19:00 - 2024-06-09 13:00 | University of Cambridge, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB23 8AQ, United Kingdom
Delivered by Dr Peter Sheldon for the University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education (ICE).
Course Overview
Suitable for beginners as well as those with some previous knowledge. You will see how fossils get preserved, sometimes in surprising detail, and learn how to recognise some common fossil groups. Our look at major events in the history of life will include the latest discoveries and discuss the significance of mass extinctions, such as when the dinosaurs died out. We will end by considering the influence of own species on the biosphere. There will be a chance to study many real fossils put out in the teaching room.
This course (with optional accommodation) includes 7 x 90-minute sessions delivered between Friday evening and Sunday lunchtime with plenty of opportunity for further conversations and networking during breaks and mealtimes.
For more details and how to book click here.

Spying on open vent volcanoes from ground, air and space
2024-06-13 19:45 - 21:30 | over Zoom
Talk by Dr. Emma Nicholson (Liu), University College London
Abstract:
“Open vent” volcanoes are persistently active and maintain an unbroken connection between shallow magma reservoirs and the atmosphere. These volcanoes are true natural laboratories, providing an unparalleled window into the subsurface physical and chemical processes that control volcanic activity. Open vent volcanoes sustain large volcanic gas emissions and are therefore the “chimney pipes” of our planet, responsible for shaping the Earth’s atmosphere over geological time and impacting regional air and water quality on human timescales. Lava lakes are rare end-members in the expressions of open vent volcanism and can remain stable for years to decades. Yet, recent events at Kilauea (Hawaii), Ambrym (Vanuatu) and Nyiragongo (DRC) have emphasized how rapidly these lakes can drain to feed voluminous flank eruptions, posing substantial environmental and societal hazards. I will review some of the recent advances and outstanding questions in our understanding of the mechanisms and impacts of open vent volcanic activity. In particular, I will focus on how remote sensing observations—from the ground, air and space—combined with studies of erupted volcanic rocks are providing new perspectives on the long-term eruptive behaviour of open vent volcanoes. This talk will draw on new insights from a National Geographic expedition to one of the most remote active volcanoes on Earth – Mt Michael, located in the South Sandwich Islands at the gateway to the Southern Ocean.
View This Talk In The Members’ Section.

Painting with Stone: Materials, Methods and Traditions in Pietre Dure
2024-07-11 19:45 - 21:30 | Oaklands College, Sapsed Room (SR), Oaklands College, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL4 0XS, United Kingdom
Talk by Dr. Ruth Siddall (University College London)
Abstract:
The talk will introduce the history, techniques and materials used in the decorative art of pietre dure (hard stone work). Almost every stately home and museum has a table-top or other object decorated with pietre dure and yet the craftmanship and materiality of the technique has been one of the most disregarded topics of study within the decorative arts. The technique of making patterns with coloured stones began in Antiquity and then found a renaissance in 15th Century Europe and was used equally for adorning large objects of furniture and small items such as stuff boxes and jewellery. The technique remained popular until the 19th Century in Europe and continues to be used in architecture and the decorative arts in Asia and particularly in India. The choice of stones used often has a specific connection to the workshops and therefore a knowledge of decorative stones used is essential for assigning a provenance to works made using the pietre dure technique.
View This Talk In The Members’ Section.

Summer Event - The Water Table II: Where does all the water go?
2024-07-20 10:00 - 16:00 | Affinity Water Ltd, Tamblin Way, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL10 9EZ, United Kingdom

Modelling the Atmospheres of Tidally-locked Terrestrial Exoplanets
2024-09-12 19:30 - 21:30 | over Zoom
Talk by Dr. Andrew Rushby, Birkbeck College, University of London unfortunately had to be cancelled. We hope to reschedule the talk and include it in our 2025 programme.
Abstract
The climates of terrestrial planets are affected by their host star, the properties of their atmospheres, as well as any land, ocean, and icy surfaces, in predictable but also complex ways. I will provide a short introduction to the novel climatologies of tidally-locked (synchronously-rotating) planets in the orbit of small, cool M-Dwarf stars, highlighting recent ensemble and climate model intercomparison studies have been used to uncover some of the effects of the complex, ‘non-Earth-like’ rotational regimes of these worlds, which are likely common in our galaxy, on their possible climates and habitability by presenting some results from my recent work, as well as that of my students, collaborators, andcolleagues working in this area.
If time allows, I will also discuss the NASA ‘Research Coordination Network’ (RCN) model (of which NExSS was the first) and the means by which the astrobiology research and funding landscape within NASA, and beyond, is evolving to meet the needs of interdisciplinary scientists working in the field to leverage upcoming NASA, ESA, JAXA etc. missions, analogue studies, and observational platforms.
Bio – Dr Andrew Rushby is a Lecturer in Astrobiology and Programme Director of the MSc. Astrobiology programme in the School of Natural Sciences at Birkbeck, University of London.

Snowball Earth
