Schedule of Events

08 January 2020
Monthly Meeting

Getting to the root of roots
Talk by Dr Sandy Hetherington (Oxford University)

Dr Sandy Hetherington is an evolutionary biologist whose research spans the study of both extant and extinct plant species. Sandy’s doctoral thesis titled the “Evolution and morphology of lycophyte root systems” was awarded the Irene Manton Prize from the Linnean Society of London. He works as a research fellow at Magdalen College, Oxford.

Venue:
Cavendish Hall, Field End Road, Eastcote, Middx HA4 9PG

Doors open at 7.30pm, talk at 8pm followed by coffee.
Non-members welcome (£3 entry). Children 14+ must be accompanied.

Dr Sandy Hetherington
“The evolution of plant roots shaped the terrestrial landscape and underpinned the radiation of land plants. The aim of the talk is to provide an overview of the early evolution of plant roots, with special attention given to fossil plants preserved in the famous Rhynie chert and the rooting systems that anchored the giant Carboniferous tree clubmosses.“
Website

12 February 2020
Monthly Meeting

Triumphs and Disasters in Engineering Geology
Talk by Prof. David Norbury (Consultant Engineering Geologist)

Venue:
Cavendish Hall, Field End Road, Eastcote, Middx HA4 9PG

Doors open at 7.30pm, talk at 8pm followed by coffee.
Non-members welcome (£3 entry). Children 14+ must be accompanied.

Professor David Norbury
“Engineering geology as a technical subject grew out of developments in USA and UK in the mid 20th century. Research and education followed, but did this result in failures ceasing? I will address this matter with some examples of failures in the context of the evolution of the subject. “
Website

11 March 2020
Monthly Meeting

Colours of the Natural History Museum’s Gem Collection
Talk by Robin Hansen (Natural History Museum)

Robin Hansen is curator of the minerals and gemstone collections at the Natural History Museum where she assists with public ID enquiries. She has a special interest in gems and pegmatite minerals.

Venue:
Cavendish Hall, Field End Road, Eastcote, Middx HA4 9PG

Doors open at 7.30pm, talk at 8pm followed by coffee.
Non-members welcome (£3 entry). Children must be accompanied.

Robin Hansen
Gem Stones at the NHM
"Gemstones, gem materials, gem rough and worked objects have been collected alongside mineral specimens for over 270 years, creating one of the world’s most outstanding mineralogical collections, housed in the Natural History Museum, London. Some 5,000 of the 185,000 specimens are gemstones or worked objects and constitute the Gem Collection. Learn more about the history of the Gem Collection, some of its highlights, and take a look at the science behind what gives these gem materials their beautiful array of colours."
Website

Rescheduled Talk

N.B. Due to coronavirus this talk has been rescheduled to April 2021

Quaternary Rivers and Glaciers in Midland and Eastern England – conflicting views and observable evidence -
Talk by Professor Jim Rose

Venue:
Cavendish Hall, Field End Road, Eastcote, Middx HA4 9PG

Doors open at 7.30pm, talk at 8pm followed by coffee.
Non-members welcome (£3 entry). Children 14+ must be accompanied.

Professor Jim Rose
Emeritus Professor, Department of Geography, Royal Holloway, University of London; Honorary Research Associate, British Geological Survey

Abstract
Royal Holloway website
Jim Rose holds the Murchison Award and the Victoria Medal of the Royal Geographical Society and the Coke Medal of the Geological Society of London. He is a Scientific Advisor to Natural England. His research interests cover a wide range of Quaternary science including climate and environmental change through the Last interglacial/ Last glacial in Europe, environmental change and Human occupance of Britain.

27 May 2020 - AGM meeting (Rescheduled due to COVID-19)

The AGM was carried out by a combination of on-line, email and postal information in line with our constitutional requirements.

Information was sent out to members.
The Secretary requested matters arising and nominations for the Committee to be submitted in writing.

10 June 2020 - Online meeting

Presentation by the Chairman, Sheppy Shepherd

"The Discovery of Geology as a Science"

08 July 2020 - Online meeting

Members Evening:
Quiz night

12 August 2020 - Online meeting

Presentation by the Chairman, Sheppy Shepherd

"Volcanoes"

09 September 2020 - Online meeting

Presentation by Joan Waters (HHGS)

"Santorini"

14 October 2020 - Online meeting

Presentation by the Chairman, Sheppy Shepherd

"Mineral Identification"

11 November 2020 - Online meeting

Presentation by Joan Waters (HHGS)

"The Auvergne"

Rescheduled Talks

Due to coronavirus some talks have been rescheduled to 2021.

Dates for these talks will be announced once meetings are able to be held at our usual venue.

Dr Ilias Karapanos (Affinity Water):
"Developments in understanding the flow mechanisms in the Chalk and groundwater-surface water interactions"
Dr Tom White (NHM):
"Advances in Quaternary non-marine molluscan research: the view from Britain and NW Europe"

2nd Wednesday of month

Currently Online due to Covid19.

Monthly Meetings at Cavendish Hall will continue once coronavirus restrictions have been lifted

Venue when social distancing permits:
Cavendish Hall, Field End Road, Eastcote, Middx HA4 9PG
Doors open at 7.30pm, talk at 8pm followed by coffee.
Non-members welcome (£3 entry). Children 14+ must be accompanied.