In 1979, the BBC produced the series Life on Earth, which cost over £1 million to produce and was filmed at over 100 locations worldwide. Coverage, however, was limited to live organisms. I recall wishing for a similar series for the fossil record, however we did not have the knowledge on how fast Tyrannosaurus could run or the computer-generated imagery (CGI) needed to make such a series exciting to the layperson.  Over four decades later, Netflix has released a ground-breaking series, Life on Our Planet, based on the premise that the estimated 20 million species currently on Earth are j ..read more

Geoffrey Bond (1912-83), author of this curiously titled book, headed the geology department of the University of Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) as Inaugural Professor from 1960 to 1977, before becoming Vice-Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor until retiring in 1982. Based on a private family memoir, tributes from close associates, two formal obituaries, and the author’s 60-odd geological publications, the book first describes Bond’s early years (late 1930s to mid-1940s) of graduate studies at Imperial College, London, which were interrupted by conscription into the Royal Air Force in Southern ..read more

Coming to this book as someone who was ignorant of the geology of Essex, I have had one of the most enjoyable and enlightening experiences in reading this weighty tome. The detail and knowledge shared makes this one of my outstanding reads of the year. Covering in extraordinary detail the geology of the county, the authors have managed to produce a book that deserves a very wide audience. Although marketed for a “general readership”, I can see this book finding a place on the bookshelves of professional geologists, amateur geologists, and, indeed, anyone with an interest in natural history. T ..read more

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This well illustrated volume provides a comprehensive account of where computerised geological modelling is heading. The editors combine contributions from 129 authors, mostly from the UK, with the remaining authors mainly from The Netherlands, North America, Germany, France, and Spain. For geological models, digital output depends on the original data upon which the models are based. The time scales over which such models are produced must be compared to the expense of gathering fresh observations, which would improve overall model reliability. The question of model uncertainty merits an all ..read more

During autumn/winter 2023, the Society’s social media channels, e-newsletter and Geoscientist keenly encouraged Fellows to stand for Council to succeed the six Council members retiring at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 12 June 2024. Eight nominations were received for the six vacancies. The preliminary ballot will run from 1 March to 31 March. The ballot results determine the list for the formal vote at the AGM. The process for the election of Council members is set out at section 6 of the Bye-laws. Civica, an independent ballot service provider, will administer the Council ballot on beha ..read more

In summer 2024, Prof Andy Fleet will step down as Editor-in-Chief of Geoscientist magazine after six years. We are therefore seeking a new Editor-in-Chief. This voluntary position offers an excellent opportunity to support the Society, help shape the magazine, broaden scientific networks, and deepen Continued Professional Development. The role would suit a person with a broad knowledge of the Society (for instance, gained as a past member of Council or past Officer of the Society), and with experience in scientific publishing. Details are available at www.geolsoc.org.uk/bhrecruitment. Applicat ..read more

Tell us about your work as a carbon ratings scientist BeZero Carbon is a carbon ratings agency, and we evaluate risk within carbon removal, avoidance, and reduction projects. As a carbon ratings scientist, I try to determine how likely the projects are to successfully remove or avoid producing a tonne of carbon. We use a scale from AAA, which is the most likely, to D, the least likely. That rating tells you our opinion of how effective the carbon removal project will be and the likelihood of actually achieving those figures. My role is in engineered carbon removals, which is any project that u ..read more

Constraining the subsurface behaviour of magma using surface observations is notoriously difficult. At oceanic hotspots, the crust is relatively thin, which facilitates frequent effusive activity, shallow magma storage, and multiple pathways for magma ascent. This makes volcanoes associated with oceanic hotspots useful candidates for understanding magmatic systems, by conducting geochemical analyses on recently erupted material or monitoring surface deformation. Eoin Reddin at the University of Leeds, UK, and colleagues use radar data from the Sentinel-1 satellite to study volcanic displacemen ..read more