Free online film and Q&A on travelling time with rocks
Rockwatchers who have already caught up with our most recent instalment in the Dig Deeper series About Time by Dr Robert Chandler will be interested to know there’s an online event taking place this Wednesday 12th August from 10.00-11.30am, with Dr Anjana Khatwa on this very subject. Anjana – also known as JurassicGirl – will be doing a spot of time travelling herself to reveal the mysteries hidden inside rocks that...
Dig Deeper – About Time
Week two of our Dig Deeper series is About Time – a field trip with a difference. In fact, Dr Robert Chandler will be taking you on a journey through and about time. Dr Who fans will appreciate the analogy for sure! Robert had his passion for geology sparked as a young boy and spent his entire career passing on this passion as a teacher to many young people, and now as a Rockwatch Ambassador, brings his expertise and passion to...
Rockwatch Treasurer and Committee Member, John Crocker sadly died
We are very sad to report the death of Dr John Crocker on 22nd May 2020. John had been the Rockwatch Treasurer and a greatly valued member of the Rockwatch Management Committee for many years. Part of John’s Chemistry degree was a course in Geology which led to a lifelong fascination of the subject – mainly rocks and minerals. He loved to go out into the field and collect specimens and ‘read’ the landscape. The picture shows...
Dig Deeper: Fossils and Geology at Coombe Quarry, Mapperton
The first field trip from home in our Dig Deeper series comes to us thanks to geology expert and Rockwatch friend, Dr Robert Chandler. Well known for his knowledge of the West Country, Robert shares many stories about a geologically significant site called Coombe Quarry. In fact, Rockwatchers may well have met Robert on previous field trips to this very quarry! This trip takes readers right back to the Jurassic Period, though...
Summer Science Online talks freely available for all
Great news. The Royal Society’s Summer Science Online programme of talks and videos on a variety of fascinating topics, delivered earlier this month, has been made available for you to enjoy for longer from home. Head over to the Royal Society website and explore all the content for free! Content is generally suitable for science enthusiasts aged 12+. Enjoy!...
Celebrating Ocean Mapmaker Marie Tharp
Geolog Blog has published a fascinating tribute today to mark 100 years since the birth of Marie Tharp. Marie Tharp is hailed as a pioneer and idol to female geoscientists because of her important discoveries from the 1950’s to the 1990’s. Marie produced the first maps of the ocean floor at a time when little was known about them. Her work was key to developing the theory of plate tectonics. Her achievements are admired...
Dig Deeper and explore some fascinating geological sites and topics with experts
Rockwatch is thrilled to launch its new Dig Deeper series for Rockwatchers, where budding geologists will be able to explore geological sites and topics on the website thanks to our amazing team of geological experts! Renowned geologists – and regular Rockwatch ambassadors from around the UK – have rallied together during lockdown and beyond to bring you a series of field trips, essays, presentations and activities you can...
Issue 85 of the Rockwatch Magazine: published July 2020
Issue 85 Contents List: published July 2020 INSIDE THE MIND OF PROTEROSUCHUS Image 1 of 6 INSIDE THE MIND OF PROTEROSUCHUS SNACKS FROM SPACE Recipes inspired by our Solar System planets INSIDE THE MIND OF PROTEROSUCHUS Researching an extinction event survivor YELLOWSTONE: RIVERS DEEP, FOUNTAINS HIGH An imagined visit to the American national park POLLEN GRAINS: FOSSILS NOT TO BE SNIFFED AT Clues that pollen gives about climate change...
Summer Science Online Starts Today!
Already on school holidays or just want a break from the school day? Fancy doing some fun online activities? Well you’re in luck. The Royal Society’s Summer Science Festival starts today! There are online activities for you to enjoy every day this week, starting with a look at the psychology of doping and what factors might lead an athlete to cheat. There’s also a Doodle of the day on Twitter at 1pm and you can tune...
Festival of Geology 2020 – save the dates!
Exciting News! This year’s Festival of Geology – brought to you by the Geologists’ Association – will be taking place online on the 7th and 8th November. As always, Rockwatch will be involved in the fun and it will be totally FREE. We’ll share more details about what you can look forward to over the coming months but for now pop the dates in your...
The Royal Society’s Summer Science Online Festival
Rockwatchers may be interested to explore The Royal Society’s Summer Science festival which takes place online from 13 – 17 July. It’s a packed itinerary featuring a free digital programme of talks, quizzes and videos celebrating cutting-edge and historic science. A great way to enjoy science from the comfort of your own...
Issue 84 of the Rockwatch Magazine: published April 2020
Issue 84 Contents List: published April 2020 THE FIRST DINOSAUR HUNTERS Image 1 of 7 Victorian palaeontologists IN THE LAND OF ICE AND FIRE Seeing the geological wonders of Iceland GEOLOGY ON MY DOORSTEP Spotting the stony stories of town streets TRACING THE BIGGEST BLAST World-shaking volcanic eruptions THE FIRST DINOSAUR HUNTERS Victorian palaeontologists LIVING MY DINOSAUR DREAM Digging for remains in the USA HATCHING A STONE EGG...
Rockstar and Young Writer 2020 Competition Now Open!
We’re excited to announce that this year’s Rockstar and Young Writer Competition for 2020 is now officially open for entrants! It’s a great way to spend some time while you are home-based during the Coronavirus pandemic and to enjoy putting your creation together. You could be in with a chance of winning some wonderful prizes too! Check out our tips page for some handy hints on what to do, and Download the Rockstar...
Rockstar Competition 2020 Coming Soon!
Details of this year’s Rockwatch Rockstars and Young Writers Competitions for 2020 are being finalised and will be announced very soon. With schools about to close, there will be many young people eager to fill their time with interesting and resourceful things to do so why not have a think about what you could do to enter this year? You could be one of this year’s winners!
Rocky Roadshow in Norwich on Saturday 29 February – 2020
Come along and join us at the Rocky-Fossil Roadshow in Norwich on Saturday 29 February from 11.00 till 3.00. There will be displays including local fossil finds, wire wrapping, faceting, tumble polishing, silver smithing, stacking photography, enamelling and more. Rockwatch will be there with fossil plaster casting. Suitable for all ages. Just come along! The day is being organized by the Norfolk Mineral and Lapidary...
Issue 83 of the Rockwatch Magazine: published Dec 2019
Issue 83 Contents List: published Dec 2019 2019-Rockstar-winners Image 1 of 7 2019 ROCKSTAR WINNERS Rockstar Competition Entries and winners Blowholes – a Total Blast! How they’re formed, how they work Beneath the City’s Surface A model full of surprises Phone Age Minerals Use of minerals, now and in the future Going with the flow How Snowdon arrived in Essex! Fabulous Fossils in Morocco Revealing a North African...
Issue 82 of the Rockwatch Magazine
Issue 82 Contents List: published July 2019 ABSOLUTELY MARBLEOUS Image 1 of 7 ABSOLUTELY MARBLEOUS Summer Inspiration Our full summer programme of events to come Morocco – it’s just like Devon Familiar sights in far-off places New Light on Mass Extinction What Happened 66 mya? Discovering Mary Anning’s Fish-Lizard Volunteer’s detective work pays off Bird’s Feet and Dogs Too! Favourite Fossil Memories from...
Plumbing the Depths of the Kimmeridge Clay Lecture
Rockwatchers may be interested to go to a talk on Plumming the Depths of the Kimmeridge Clay.It’s part of the Keith Palmer Lecture Series & PESGB Stoneley Lecture Series. The talk will be given by Dr Steve Etches MBE & Professor Alice Roberts.Find out more on the Lapworth Museum website or download the event flyer.When: 15 May 2019 — 18:00pmVenue: Wodensborough Ormiston Academy, Hydes Road,...
Rockwatch Magazine Issue 81
Issue 81 Contents List: published March 2019 BEACH GEOLOGY ON THE MOVE Image 1 of 6 BEACH GEOLOGY ON THE MOVE Rockwatch treading new ground Our first trip to the newly refurbished Lapworth Museum Fossils of the North Star Explorations in a remote Arctic island Braving Greenland’s Elements Students embark on a mapping adventure Probing Mighty Minster’s Stonework York Minster’s geological pedigree Burren Wonderland So...
Rockwatch Magazine – Issue 80
Issue 80 Contents List: published December 2018 the-silly-thief ◄ Back Next ► Picture 1 of 7 THE SILLY THIEF Rockstardom! This year’s Rockstar competitions Earth inside out What goes on under our planet’s surface Cut, colour and stick your own 3D geology Have fun making a geology box Alien planets Where rocks are not what they seem Stone’s fossil secret cracked open How children’s game led to fossil finds When fossils come...
Rockwatch Magazine – Issue 79
Issue 79 Contents List: published July 2018 four-go-wild-in-greenland ◄ Back Next ► Picture 1 of 7 FOUR GO WILD IN GREENLAND Getting into hot water Finding geothermal energy Braided rivers What they are, where to find them Cornwall’s special agates The rocks that make wonderful jewellery Spotting the earliest forms of life Fossil finds from the deep Precambrian Seafaring surprises in landlocked rocks Peak District...
Book the Annual Residential Fieldtrip and Get First Year of Rockwatch Membership for Free!
Over time our residential fieldtrip to Dorset has become something of an annual pilgrimage for Rockwatchers. It’s a time when members come together with the Rockwatch Team and fellow experts and have a full daily programme in the summer exploring some of the most precious geological sites that Dorset’s Jurassic Coastline has to offer and a number of fun evening activities. These are not just any old geological sites, but as...
Rockwatch Magazine: Issue 78
Issue 78 Contents List: published February 2018 SETTING OUT TO SOLVE AN AMMONITE MYSTERY Rockwriter entry. THE WORLD’S SMALLEST GEOLOGISTS? Bacteria and geology! GEOLOGY IN THE MAKING New Zealand’s dynamic North Island. MY JOURNEY TO BECOMING A GEOLOIST How one Rockwatch reader made a career. A BOAT TRIP TO ROBBEN ISLAND Rockwriter entry. AFRICAN GOLD Mining in Ethiopia. SIX DAYS OF FOSSIL HISTORY A visit to Biddulph...
Rockwatch Magazine – Issue 78
Issue 78 Contents List: published March 2018 african-gold ◄ Back Next ► Picture 1 of 7 AFRICAN GOLD SETTING OUT TO SOLVE THE AMMONITE MYSTERY Rockwatch entry THE WORLD’S SMALLEST GEOLOGISTS Bacteria and geology! GEOLOGY IN THE MAKING New Zealand’s dynamic North Island MY JOURNEY TO BECOMING A GEOLOGIST How one Rockwach reader made a career A BOAT TRIP TO ROBBEN ISLAND Rockwriter entry AFRICAN GOLD Mining in...