'Geology and Society'

Earth Science Teachers' Association Annual Course and Conference

Friday 17th - Sunday 19th September, 2010

Programme Friday 17th

Registration from 08.30, coach leaves halls 08.30, sessions commence 09.10

INSET training sessions

Post-16

For A-level geology teachers and will include:

• Update lectures on subjects from the mantle to Mars, plus a first-hand account of Eyjafjallajokull!
  
• Workshops including comets, skulls and ocean drilling.
• Special session joint with HE teachers on Geoscience in the 21st century will discuss the outputs of the recent BGS-NERC-Geological Society initiative.
• Bring and share session for resources and ideas.

HE  "Geoscience in the 21st Century"

This INSET will take a forward look at where Earth Sciences are going and the implications for those teaching in HE, including:

• Developments in digital mapping and GIS
• GEES project - 3-D Visualisation: using internet-based activities to enhance students’ understanding of 3-dimensional spatial relationships.
  
• Updates on GEES climate change project and UK Earth Science Courseware Consortium software.
• Special session joint with post-16 teachers on Geoscience in the 21st century will discuss the outputs of the recent BGS-NERC-Geological Society initiative.
• Discussion session “Whither (or wither) hand-specimen work in geoscience?”

Workshops*

• Geospatial data and technology in the geology classroom
• Comets and meteorites
• Reconstructing diet from vertebrate skulls
• Ocean drilling
• On-line resources from BGS
• School seismology - taster
• School seismology - problem solving, show and tell
  

*Available as alternative to INSETS and optional alternatives for INSET attendees.

The London Petrophysical Society Icebreaker Reception - Friday evening

Exceptionally preserved fossils

Prof. David Siveter will present a special evening lecture on exceptionally preserved fossils including the ornate 3-dimensionally-preserved species from the Herefordshire Lagerstätte. Further details

Programme Saturday 18th

Registration from 08.30, coach leaves halls 08.30, main conference commences 09.15, INSET commence 09.30

INSET training sessions

Primary

Run by the ESTA Primary Team.

EARTH SCIENCE TO THE CORE - making materials ‘fun’!
A day of practical activities to demonstrate how Earth Science can be integrated across the curriculum - aimed at non-specialists.

• Minerals
• Rocks
• Soils
• Rivers/Coasts

Course fee includes: Lunch, tea/coffee, Collection of 15 rock samples, Other teaching resources and exhibits, 1 year subscription to Teaching Primary Earth Science (worth £5). Further details.

KS3/4

Run by the Earth Science Education Unit (ESEU).

Experience a range of hands on workshops that will not only provide lots of classroom activities but will also boost your own background knowledge in Earth science. See how to use these activities to develop the thinking and investigational skills of your students.

• Spot that Rock
• The Dynamic Rock Cycle
• Earth Science Out of Doors
• Plate tectonics

Main conference - Geology & Society

Forensic Geology - confirmed Keynote Speakers

Dr Laurance Donnelly (Wardell-Armstrong) is a geologist who has collaborated with a number of police forces in their investigations, and for 11 years, has applied his geological capabilities and expertise to search for buried murder victims. Whilst Dr Jane Evans (Head of Science-based Archaeology, NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory) will show how an understanding of bedrock geology, and its isotopic composition, can be used to trace the origins and migration of human communities - as well as modern murder victims. Further details

Geology in the Modern World - confirmed Keynote Speakers

The Anthropocene - Dr Jan Zalasiewicz, author of “The Earth After Us”, will discuss whether, as a result of the effects of human activity on the global environment, we are entering a new Geological Era.
Sustainable development - Prof. Mike Petterson will discuss how geology can be a force for good in delivering economic benefits to developing countries. Further details

Carbon

The Carbon Cycle, Recent Climate Change, Geological Carbon Sequestration, and novel fuels such as Methane Hydrates will all be explained by experts in the field. Further details

ESTA AGM

Further details

The Anglo American Conference Dinner at the National Space Centre

Thanks to the generous donations by our sponsors the dinner will be held at this award winning location.

As well as a dinner within the Planets gallery, the evening will include a drinks reception in the Rocket Tower, space simulator rides, a 360° film show in the Space Theatre and free access to all the galleries including the Earth from Space, the Planets, and Exploring the Universe. Further details.

Exhibitors - Friday & Saturday

• University Geoscience Departments - Leeds, Derby, Durham and Leicester
  
• British Geological Survey
• Examination Boards - WJEC and OCR
• Association for Science Education (ASE)
  
• ESTA
• Earth Science Education Unit
  
• Volcanic Experiences
• Discover the World
• The Mineralogical Society
• GeoconservationUK
• Gloucestershire Geology Trust and the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Earth Heritage Trust
• Wessex Archaeology
  

Programme Sunday 19th

Field trips:

(estimated completion time)

• Charnwood Forest – home to Charnia - the oldest macrofossils in the UK (14.30).
• Fossil-packed Jurassic rocks to the east (13.30).
• Hands-on shallow geophysics workshop (13.00).
• Industrial visit to Bardon Hill Quarry (Aggregate Industries), a superquarry producing more than 1 million tonnes of crushed rock per year (14.30).
• A tour of rock sculptures (geology and art!) in the beautiful university Botanic Gardens (11.30).
• Self-guided tour of the Building stones of Leicester.

 Further details

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