Recent News

Elections to Council

At the AGM on 20 January the following members of Council were elected.

Applications for field work grants from The Clough and Mykura Funds

Grants from these funds, normally of the order of a few hundred pounds, are available to support geological field work at home or abroad. Application Forms should be submitted by 28th February for consideration in early March. >> more information

Nominiations for the Clough Medal and the Clough Memorial Award

The Clough Medal is the Society's premier award. It is awarded annually to a geologist whose original work has materially increased the knowledge of the geology of Scotland and/or the north of England, or who is Scottish by birth or by adoption and residence and has significantly advanced the knowledge of any aspect of geology.

The Clough Memorial Award is a monetary award, given to a geologist of British nationality and up to 35 years old whose research on some aspect of the geology of Scotland or the north of England is considered as having outstanding merit. It is awarded biennially in even years.

Nominations for these awards for the 2010-2011 session are being accepted now (preferably by email to the Secretary - contact details), with a deadline of 28th February for consideration by the Clough Committee in early March.

Online access to the Scottish Journal of Geology

The Scottish Journal of Geology is now online as part of the Lyell Collection. Abstracts are available for free for anyone, and EGS members can access the full content of the journal, including back issues, for free. This involves a one-off, free subscription activation where you select a user name and password. Note that this access is available to all Ordinary, Life, Honorary, Distinguished and Corresponding Fellows; but not to Senior Fellows, Family Fellows, or Associate Fellows (Junior or Glasgow). Glasgow Associates can get access via the Geological Society of Glasgow.

1) Go to the subscription activation page (www.lyellcollection.org/cgi/activate/ibasic) and enter your subscriber ID number. This is your four-digit EGS member number prefixed with the letters EGS. e.g, if you are EGS member 79, your Subscriber ID is EGS0079. You can find your EGS member number from the address label of a recent SJG mailing, or you can contact Angus Miller or Christine Thompson - see contact details.

2) You will then need to select a username and password which you will use to login and view the journal. Once you've completed the subscription activation, you will be able to access the SJG site here sjg.lyellcollection.org or using the link from the main Lyell Collection webpage here www.lyellcollection.org/.

Edinburgh Geologist back in publication

The Edinburgh Geological Society is delighted to announce, after a gap of 4 years, the renewal of the publication the Edinburgh Geologist, our in-house magazine that is aimed at amateur geologists and other non-specialists. Issue number 46 was sent out to members in December 2009. Many thanks to the editors, Phil Stone and Bob McIntosh and to everyone else who helped. We hope to maintain publication of one issue per year.

Earth Science books from Dunedin Academic Press
SPECIAL OFFER TO EGS MEMBERS

Death of an Ocean – a Geological Borders Ballad Euan Clarkson & Brian Upton
Published price: £25 Offer price £20 post free

Fossils Alive! New walks in an Old Field Nigel Trewin
Published price: £19.95 Offer price: £16.00 post free

The Geology of Ireland (Second Edition) Edited by Charles Hepworth Holland and Ian S. Sanders
Published price: £90 Offer price: £80 post free

This special offer is only available to EGS members in the UK and Europe. Please order before 1 March 2010, quoting EGS offer, from: Turpin Distribution (Dunedin Academic Press) Pegasus Drive, Stratton Business Park, Biggleswade, UK, SG18 8TQ Tel: +44 (0)1767 604951 Fax: +44 (0)1767 601640

For further details and an order form click here to download a pdf file.

Shetland confirmed as the 35th European Geopark

Shetland was confirmed as the 35th European Geopark at the 8th European Geopark conference held at Idanha-a-Nova, in the Naturtejo Geopark, Portugal in September. Geopark Shetland comprises the whole island group of 100 islands and will be Europe’s most northerly Geopark.

The European Geopark Network Committee recognised the importance of the isles' amazing diversity of easily accessible geology and landscape that is packed into a comparatively small area. Shetland’s outstanding geology tells not only the geological story of the islands and of Scotland, but also how the world itself has formed and changed.

Geopark Shetland website is at www.geoparkshetland.org.uk

Allen Fraser

Medals and Awards 2009-2010

The Clough Medal for 2009-2010 will be presented to Dr Doug Fettes in recognition of his distinguished contributions to Scottish Precambrian geology, including his work to represent these rocks in international fora and his leadership role and understated management style. He will deliver the Clough Medal Lecture on the 10th February.

The Clough Memorial Award for 2008-2009 will be given to Dr David Brown, in recognition of his very active role in fieldwork and inspiring students, in organising the recent Ardnamurchan meeting, his novel approach of applying sedimentological techniques to volcaniclastic rocks, and his enthusiasm for sharing Scottish areas with students.

Grants of £400 from the Clough and Mykura Funds have been awarded to each of the following: Tom Gernon, Trinity College Dublin, for fieldwork on the Elie Ness and Elie Harbour diatremes in East Fife. Adam McArthur, University of Aberdeen, for fieldwork on the Upper Jurassic Helmsdale Boulder Beds, Sutherland. Brian O'Driscoll, Keele University, for fieldwork investigating PGEenriched Cr-spinel seams on the Isle of Unst, Shetland. O'Driscoll's grant will be from the Mykura Fund, to reflect Wally Mykura's long association with Shetland.

Rum Excursion Guide Published

The Society is delighted to announce that the Geological Excursion Guide to Rum by Henry Emeleus and Val Troll has now been published. It is beautifully illustrated, with full-colour maps and plenty of photos. The retail price is £12.99 but it will be available to members at £10.40 excluding P & P. Visit the Publications page for details.

Join the EGS email list!

The EGS email list is used to remind fellows of upcoming events and any changes to our published programmes. Emails are sent once a month or so. Your email address will not be shared with other organisations or companies. If you would like to join the email list, please contact the Secretary..

Annual Subscription

Annual subscriptions are due on 1st October 2009 at the following rates:

Ordinary Fellows £20.00
Family Fellows £10.00; thus Joint Fellowship becomes £30.00
Senior Fellows and Glasgow Associates £10.00
Junior Associates £4.00

Please send cheques payable to “Edinburgh Geological Society” to the Membership Secretary, Christine Thompson, 85 Grange Loan, Edinburgh EH9 2ED.

If in doubt about your current membership status and payment arrangement, please contact the Membership Secretary (see Society Contacts).

Lectures, etc at the School of Geosciences, Edinburgh University

Meetings of the Geological Society - Central Scotland Regional Group

2010 Young Persons Lecture Competition, organised by The Mining Institute of Scotland

Would you like to:
- Represent Scotland in the UK YPLC final?
- Enhance your presentation & speaking skills?
- Win up to £250 & expenses paid trip to London?

Then why not participate in the IOM3’s answer to the X Factor and enter the 2010 Young Person’s Lecture Competition? Open to both members and nonmembers of the Institute, contestants must be age 28 or under on June 1st 2010 and give a 15 minute talk on any subject relating to materials, minerals or mining.

Regional heats Aberdeen & Edinburgh 10 February 2010, 5:30pm.

The Regional winner receives £250 and goes on to represent Scotland in
the UK final. £150 & £100 cash prizes for 2nd & 3rd place. Full details and application forms at:
www.iom3.org/content/young-persons-lecture-competition