2024 - 2025 session
Lecture Programme:
Lectures, of approximately an hour, are held at 7:30pm on the second Tuesday of the month from October to May inclusive. The AGM is normally held in April or May.
We hope to return to the Earth Sciences Department, University of Bristol, in April 2025. Up until then the talks will be by Zoom.
Members - WEGA members will be sent a link by email
Non-Members - should book in advance through Eventbrite for a fee of £2 plus small handling charge
8th OCTOBER 2024 7:30 pm
Venerable Beads: Martin Lister and the birth of palaeobiology
Dr. Liam Herringshaw
Abstract
In this talk, I’ll explain how a 17th Century doctor in York, Martin Lister, came to write the first palaeontological letter to a scientific journal, and how the fossils he was describing – crinoids, or sea lilies – helped change our understanding of the Earth, turning Northumbrian myths into the beginnings of palaeobiology. In telling the tale, I’ll splice together glaciers, polo mints, and Roman forts, explain the remarkable story of the microscopic Lister sisters, and – connecting directly to WEGA – reveal some of the sea-floor secrets of Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum.
Eventbrite page for this talk
12th NOVEMBER 2024 7:30pm
Offshore Carbon Capture & Storage
Prof. Jonathan Bull of the University of Southampton, based at the National Oceanography Centre
Abstract
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in sub-surface formations (depleted oil and gas reservoirs, or aquifers) is one of the mechanisms by which we can reduce Carbon Dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. In this talk I will focus on current developments in projects offshore with a particular focus on how we monitor the sequestered gas both in the sub-surface and in the water column. I will discuss the development of realistic monitoring, measurement and verification (MMV) plans.
10th DECEMBER 2024 12:30pm
Christmas Lunch please book by emailing wega.talks@gmail.com by the 29th of November
The Swan Tockington BS32 4NJ
14th JANUARY 2025 7:30pm CANCELLED
Geology and Wellbeing
Dr. Ruth Allen Geologist and Psychotherapist
How connection with nature can improve and mental wellbeing
Abstract
In this talk, geologist turned psychotherapist, Ruth Allen will discuss her geologically-inspired book Weathering. Exploring how we can all learn lessons from the ground beneath our feet when it comes to enduring the erosion of our human lives during times of change, transition and grief, when resilience is needed most. She will also outline the many ways she seeks to connect people with rock for their general health and wellbeing, offering a hopeful vision for how we can better live in the substance and depth of our lives inspired by her home in the Peak District National Park.
11th FEBRUARY 2025 7:30pm
A Geological Journey Through Oman
James Cresswell of Geoworld Travel
Abstract
The geology of Oman is spectacular and the scenery is breath-taking. Exceptionally well exposed rocks offer a fascinating outcrop experience, second to none. Oman is home to mountain ranges of more than 3,000m altitude and deeply incised canyons, with turquoise-coloured perennial streams, which contrast with dry, golden sand deserts. The country also boasts the biggest exposure of ophiolite in the world, Snowball Earth deposits and the world’s largest mega sheath fold. In addition to all this, the coastal areas also have miles of white beaches and the country as a whole boasts great archaeology and several World Heritage Sites. This talk will take a journey through the geological highlights, using the itinerary that James follows on his GeoWorld Travel tour through Oman as a framework.
11th MARCH 2025 7:30pm
The Lost Landscapes of Tibet and how they Changed the World
Prof. Bob Spicer of the Open University
Abstract
Working in Tibet is not easy, being a region with a long history of being embroiled in complex geopolitical issues and often closed to foreigners, as it largely is now. With much of the Tibetan Plateau being at around 5 km in elevation, logistics and physical work are challenging. Over the past 30 years or so I have had the privilege of doing fieldwork in Tibet many times, and this is the story of that research.
Link to a fuller abstract
1st APRIL 2025 7:30pm at G25 Earth Science Building
PhD Students:
Frankie Haywood - 'The Colour of Obsidian & Other Things''
Abstract
Obsidian is arguably one of the best-known and most fascinating rock types. Part of its appeal is its unusual appearance. In addition to the shiny, opaque black colour most people associate with obsidian, it can also be found in nature as green, blue, yellow, red, and colourless. The microstructural origin of this diversity of colour is somewhat enigmatic; despite decades of experimental work to produce artificial obsidian of the same composition for petrographic investigation, it has never quite looked quite like the real thing. This demonstrates that processes must occur in the natural volcanic eruption and deposition sequence of obsidian that control its striking appearance, but which are not captured in experiments. Despite its homogenous appearance, obsidian often contains small bubbles and crystals that can interact with light to affect how we perceive colour, yet can also tell us a lot about the magma’s journey to the surface. Here, we pull in information from different fields of study (ancient and modern glass making, petrology and volcanology, nuclear science, beer making etc…) to understand more about what makes obsidian the way it is, and what this can tell us about the way volcanoes erupt. We use the results from iron oxidation state experiments and measurements to explain how this might also affect the colour of obsidian, which could become a useful proxy to understand the conditions under which eruptions have occurred.
Benton Walters - 'Morphospace Testing of Published Pterosaur Depictions: Are Pterosaur Reconstructions Fit to Fly?'
Abstract
The fragmentary nature of pterosaur remains produces a dichotomy where, while much is known about their diversity, ecology and phylogeny, aspects of pterosaur morphology, particularly wing shape, remain controversial. In the absence of well-preserved stretched fossil wings, shape-based analyses of pterosaur flight are limited to linear measurements or reconstructed wing forms. Using theoretical morphospace analysis, we test whether published pterosaur reconstructions are useful as morphological proxies and whether artist style biases morphospace occupation. We create a theoretical space of all possible shape variation in the pterosaur wing, into which we project 91 modern wing reconstructions (since 2000) from 10 taxa to analyse their relative clustering and functional performance. We further examine whether the niche separation proposed for pterosaur groups using linear measurements is preserved, by comparing theoretical morphospace occupation of pterosaurs with that of extant birds. Our research indicates that reconstructions of pterosaur wings from the published literature do not function as living animals and exclusively occupy a thin-winged, soaring morphology. While individual artist style has little impact on wing efficacy, reconstructions are not a useful proxy for studying pterosaur flight.
MSc Student:
Lucy Stott - 'The Travertine Deposits of the Roman Baths in Bath'
Lucy is a final year Environmental Geoscience MSci student, currently specialising in biogeochemistry, working as a part of the Environmental Mineralogy group under the supervision of Dr James Byrne.
Abstract
The geothermal hot springs in Bath have been of cultural interest for centuries. However, there are several aspects of the Roman Baths that are of particular interest to Earth Scientists, apart from the fact that this is the only true thermal spring (since water temperature is > 37 degrees Celsius) in the UK. Spectacular biofilms have developed in the Baths and associated with them are mineral precipitates and travertines exhibiting a range of textural character and colour. This talk will present an introductory overview of the biogeochemical processes involved in the deposition of the travertines incorporating the results of recent studies carried out by undergraduates at the University of Bristol.
13th MAY 2025 7:30pm at G25 Earth Science Building
Prof. Jenni Barclay
'Reconstructing the eruptions of Soufriere, St. Vincent and what it tells us about volcanic risk'
Abstract
The Soufriere volcano of St. Vincent erupted most recently in 2020-2021 with a sequence of explosions causing substantial damage and disruption at the height of one of the global pandemic's lockdown periods. Like many subduction-related volcanic systems the key challenge with Soufriere is anticipating when or if it will change from slow-moving passive lava extrusion to fast-paced and destructive volcanic explosions. This talk will explore the events of 2020-2021, the driving forces behind the explosions and examine the extent to which our knowledge of past eruptive behaviour now helps us to improve responses to future behaviour.
20th MAY 2025 7pm
The AGM will be held over Zoom. Start time is 7pm and it will be followed by a talk.
The talk will commence at approximately 7:30pm and is to be given by Dr. Antony Butcher of Bristol University, on Mendip Caving.
'Caving on the Mendips and the story of Lamb Leer Cavern'
Abstract
The Mendip Hills hosts a broad range of caves. While many have only been discovered over the last 100 years, some have a much longer history. Some of the most popular caves, such as Swildons Hole, are located around Priddy and their streams resurge at Wookey Hole. Although no physical connection has yet to be made, efforts to find this missing link are however ongoing, and the deep excavations at Templeton may provide future opportunities. Over the last 20 years, several significant discoveries have been made above Cheddar, which includes the ‘Frozen Deep’ in Reservoir Hole; the largest chamber yet discovered on Mendip.
On the northern flanks of the Mendips is Lamb Leer cavern, which for a period can claim to be the deepest descended cave in the world. The first written accounts of the cave date back to 1681, and during proceeding centuries, it has been lost and rediscovered multiple times. Currently closed by the landowner, a ‘backdoor’ route is currently being dug which has resulted in a series of discoveries. In the 1930’s, Lamb Leer was also the focus of some of the earliest attempts to locate cave passages using geophysical surveys, which inspired a series of more recent follow up geophysical investigations. In this talk Dr. Butcher will present some of the finds of these survey, along with some recent discoveries that have been made during the quest to re-enter Lamb Leer cavern.