Uncovering the Hidden Landscape and Ecosystems of our Geological Past

Uncovering the Hidden Landscape and Ecosystems of our Geological Past

Our WI members spent a fascinating evening being whizzed back in time to a mere 340 million years ago near the Northumberland Scottish border. The Devonian period ‘s fossils concealed within the rocks are revealed using CT scans and more traditional methods. Fossils of Tetrapods with five digits, fragments of vegetation, soil samples from a past era, fossils of lung fish and many others provide a developing insight into this period. GPS is another invaluable tool when studying the hidden landscape. The climate was tropical and life was about to make the leap or crawl from the water. Professor Sarah Davies in her research seeks to understand the processes that controlled deposition and erosion in non-maritime and shallow maritime settings preserved in the geological record. Leicester University’s research is funded by the NERC’s Oil and Gas Innovation fund.

Clastic Sedimentologists around the world are studying trapped tropical environments surrounded by dry conditions in for example Iraq and Australia that may shed further light on our hidden landscapes within the Devonian period. There is a touring exhibition of this research which may visit the New Walk Museum in 2018.

The Salvation Army Centre at Glen Parva is the new venue for our science meetings , it has ample parking and the seating is comfortable in a spacious setting with tea and coffee provided. It is on ground level with no steps involved and good disability access and provision. There may be a need to provide some additional seating nearer to the screens and we will examine the possibilities.

Our members are looking forward to our March 2018 evening meeting.

Sheila Sterynowicz on behalf of the P.A. Committee.