Fellows’ Night 2024 – No. 191!

On 11^th December 2024, the Edinburgh Geological Society held its 191^st Fellows’ Night at the Grant Institute, University of Edinburgh. This meeting takes place each year, close to the anniversary of the foundation of the Society (on 6^th December).

The Cockburn Museum, and close by lecture rooms provided the backdrop for a fun and lively event comprising a series of short talks which were given by members, and with time in between to enjoy some nibbles and refreshments.

Our host for this in-person event was Angus Miller (our Promotion Coordinator).  Three speakers were lined up for this event with varied topics from Geopoetry, the history of Oil Exploration in Scotland and the Brora Sandstone/Scottish land mass evolution.

Our first speaker was Patrick Corbett (Emeritus Prof of Petroleum Geology at Heriot Watt University).  He explained what the term Geopoetry was and its origins, and updated us on the sad passing away of its founder Kenneth White from Fairlie in 2023.  He explained how a conference had been held in Burlington House (HQ of the Geological Society of London) – a first for the esteemed organisation.  A proceeding of this event is due to be published in the new year.  Patrick also read a poem about Isle of Luing, written on piece of slate from the island in the Firth of Lorn.

Second up was Simeon Brown (a former oil industry geologist who has work in both Africa and in various European countries), and who had kindly offered to talk through the development of the oil industry in Scotland since 1850.  From the first observed seeps at St Katherine’s “Balm” Well, in Liberton through to the extensive extraction of oil shales near Livingstone (and their legacy waste piles of the Bings).  He then covered the onshore “nodding donkeys” wells and more recently the Coal Bed Methane pilot site near Airth between 2008-15. A fascinating picture was outlined and set against a consideration of climate change through the same period – alongside recent volcanic eruptions which may also have played a part (and which has been captured by Turner’s paintings and Icelandic proverb which he shared).

Thirdly, Mark Williamson (EGS President and Professor of GeoEnergy at the University of Edinburgh) described his regular geological visits with undergraduate students to the Jurassic age Brora Sandstone Formation outcrops around Helmsdale, Northeast Scotland. These sequences are model for the North Sea and with the dynamic coastal processes regularly providing new things to see.  One such find was of a series of pebbles in the sandstone and their origin has lead Mark on an investigation of possible sources for this fluvial derived material.  He hypothesised that its origin may be from the outcrops on the South side of Moray Firth, meaning that in order for this to be emplaced, then the land mass to the south must have been shedding material all across the area which is now the Moray Firth marine environment.  Hence, the shoreline of Nor Scotland may not have been quite so static as others, including Prof John Judd FGS might have thought.

In conclusion, Angus said that as with all good Fellows’ Nights we had ranged extensively across the various topics but that all had strange inter-linkages reflecting how geology informs all aspects of our lives.  We finished off the evening with a vote of thanks to the speakers and also, to Bob Gatliff (former EGS President) who had so kindly done the food and drink shopping for another year.

We look forward to many more Fellows’ Nights like this in the future.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.