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Geoscientist Online

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Bruce Yardley appointed Chief Geologist

Bruce Yardley (Leeds University) has been appointed Chief Geologist by The Radioactive Waste Management Directorate (RWMD) of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA).

Chartership news

Chartership Officer Bill Gaskarth reports on a projected new logo for use by CGeols, advice on applications and company training schemes

Climate Change Statement Addendum

The Society has published an addendum to 'Climate Change: Evidence from the Geological Record' (November 2010) taking account of new research

Cracking up in Lincolnshire

Oliver Pritchard, Stephen Hallett, and Timothy Farewell consider the role of soil science in maintaining the British 'evolved road'

Critical metals

Kathryn Goodenough* on a Society-sponsored hunt for the rare metals that underpin new technologies

Déja vu all over again

As Nina Morgan Discovers, the debate over HS2 is nothing new...

Done proud

Ted Nield hails the new refurbished Council Room as evidence that the Society is growing up

Earth Science Week 2014

Fellows - renew, vote for Council, and volunteer for Earth Science Week 2014!  Also - who is honoured in the Society's Awards and Medals 2014.

Fookes celebrated

Peter Fookes (Imperial College, London) celebrated at Society event in honour of Engineering Group Working Parties and their reports

Geology - poor relation?

When are University Earth Science departments going to shed their outmoded obsession with maths, physics and chemistry?

Nancy Tupholme

Nancy Tupholme, Librarian of the Society and the Royal Society, has died, reports Wendy Cawthorne.

Power, splendour and high camp

Ted Nield reviews the refurbishment of the Council Room, Burlington House

The Sir Archibald Geikie Archive at Haslemere Educational Museum

You can help the Haslemere Educational Museum to identify subjects in Sir Archibald Geikie's amazing field notebook sketches, writes John Betterton.

Top bananas

Who are the top 100 UK practising scientists?  The Science Council knows...

Hong Kong visit

GASKARTH HK DINNERresized.jpg

President-elect David Shilston and Chartership Officer Bill Gaskarth visit Hong Kong’s Regional Group.

Image: Hong Kong foodies. Back: Ken Ho (Geotechnical Office CEDD), Celia Choy (Secretary HKRG) Front: David Shilston, Paul Cheung (HKRG Chairman), Bill Gaskarth at the 10th Anniversary Dinner.

The HKRG held its 10th Anniversary in November and invited President-elect David Shilston as guest speaker at its celebration dinner on Friday 18 at the Hong Kong Football Club (see below/right/left). The occasion presented an opportunity for the Society to develop contacts with companies and geologists in Hong Kong and with Hong Kong University, and hence Chartership Officer Bill Gaskarth accompanied David on his visit.

Meetings were held, with geologists in the Hong Kong Government’s Geotechnical Engineering Office, Arup, Jacobs, AECOM and Atkins, to promote the Society’s proposal for accrediting Company Training Schemes. This met with considerable interest, and it is likely that applications will be received soon. (At the time of writing once course had already been submitted, by Gammon Construction).

ACCREDITATION

Training Scheme Accreditation is being developed as a partnership between the Society and participating companies to address the need for structured training and mentoring for early career geologists and help them develop the necessary competences required for Chartership (more information on www.geolsoc.org.uk). Around 60 young geologists took part in a series of company meetings and one arranged by the HKRG. They left no doubt as to Hong Kong’s interest in Chartership, and the HKRG has an important role to play in fostering this. The Society presently has some 12 scrutineers on the list in Hong Kong, and at a meeting arranged with CGeols and at the dinner produced a further nine recruits (as well as further enquiries about Accreditation).


HK Graduatesresized.jpg We also visited Hong Kong University, where Professors Lung Chan and Andrew Malone described how the geology degree is being changed from three to four years. The present degree boasts an accredited pathway, and we hope that in the new structure most, if not all, students will graduate with an accredited degree. All in all this was a most fruitful visit, and our thanks are to Paul Cheung and his HKRG committee. BG

Image:  Graduates and students of HKU Earth Sciences with Prof. Lung Chang and Prof. Min Sun

PRIDE

Ian Jack (Hong Kong Regional Group) writes: HKRG can look back on the last 10 years with pride, having arranged numerous meetings, fieldtrips and conferences; maintained professional standards; promoted the role of geoscientists; liaised with related professional bodies; and facilitated mentoring and scrutineering for chartered geologist candidates in Hong Kong.

We hope that the next decade will be even more successful as we build on this legacy, maintaining our busy programme and undertaking new initiatives. The HKRG is therefore always eager to hear from geoscientists interested in sharing their experiences and ideas.

All Committee members contributed to the dinner’s success, but special thanks go to Philippa Halton and Celia Choy. Thanks also go to David and Bill for taking the time out from their busy schedules to visit us in Hong Kong.