Birkbeck Students Geological Society

It’s a “Welcome” to all new students and a big “Hello” to returning students.

Here is a round up of things that are in the pipeline for the Birkbeck ‘rockhoppers’ 

We are conducting a feasability study on a one day trip for later in the Autumn term. 

Hopefully (timetable’s permitting) a guest lecture on Forensic geology. 

There is to be a Christmas or New Year’s party for all memebers.

The Spring term will hopefully take us to the Hope Valley in Derbyshire for a weekend fieldtrip. 

Also, there is a possibility of a guest lecture from our own Simon Drake on ignimbrites.

Spring time we will conduct another geology walk around London, this time focusing on the area around Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly.  This will be on a Sunday (date to be confirmed) the event is free and open to everyone; friends, family, pets, etc…….

The summer looks to be promising a return trip to Northern Ireland including the Giant’s Causway (a must see in any geologists book!), by request of those who went last year, the people we met and those who heard all about what they missed

There will also be other guest lectures - to be confirmed.

As this a society run by and for the students, if anyone has a suggestion for an area to visit for a field trip please let us know.  It may be a place you have wanted to visit or somewhere you have been that you feel would be of interest to the other students.  Just let us know.

Wishing you all the best in the new term, from

Jo Sonnex (President)

Clive Maton (Secretary)

Bernie O’Hara (Treasurer)

When labelling locations on your map use numbers not letters.  Or you’ll be stuck when you reach 26 locations!

 When you’ve taken a dip and strike write it straight onto your map, rather than in your note book to transfer later.  It will save time when it comes to inking in as your compass is already set to the correct angle, so all you then have to do is ink over it.  [thanks to Steve Hirons for that one]

When it comes to field work your boots are your best friend.  Keep them waterproofed at all times. Good ankle support is always advisable.  Trainers and wellies are not field foot wear.

Use a clutch pencil in the field (H or 2H is best as Bs can and do smudge) then there’s no need to carry and try and find a pencil sharpener in the deepest recess of a back pack or pocket.  There are some cheap all plastic ones available that will not affect your compass when taking readings.

If you have a ‘top tip’ of things to do and also things not to do why not email it to us and we’ll post if for the benefit of all.

Here’s a few for a start:

Use a clutch pencil in the field (H or 2H is best as Bs can and do smudge) then there’s no need to carry and try and find a pencil sharpener in the deepest recess of a back pack or pocket.  There are some cheap all plastic ones available that will not affect your compass when taking readings.

When it comes to field work your boots are your best friend.  Keep them waterproofed at all times. Good ankle support is always advisable.  Trainers and wellies are not field foot wear.

 When you’ve taken a dip and strike write it straight onto your map, rather than in your note book to transfer later.  It will save time when it comes to inking in as your compass is already set to the correct angle, so all you then have to do is ink over it.  [thanks to Steve Hirons for that one]

When labelling locations on your map use numbers not letters.  Or you’ll be stuck when you reach 26 locations!

You have all now experienced the, er, ‘joys’ of mapping ;-)   While you were mapping did anything occur to you that seemed a good idea?  Did anything occur that you ‘wished you’d known sooner’?

Here’s an idea.

If you have a ‘top tip’ of things to do and also things not to do why not email it to us and we’ll post if for the benefit of all.

Here’s a few for a start:

Use a clutch pencil in the field (H or 2H is best as Bs can and do smudge) then there’s no need to carry and try and find a pencil sharpener in the deepest recess of a back pack or pocket.  There are some cheap all plastic ones available that will not affect your compass when taking readings.

When it comes to field work your boots are your best friend.  Keep them waterproofed at all times. Good ankle support is always advisable.  Trainers and wellies are not field foot wear.

 When you’ve taken a dip and strike write it straight onto your map, rather than in your note book to transfer later.  It will save time when it comes to inking in as your compass is already set to the correct angle, so all you then have to do is ink over it.  [thanks to Steve Hirons for that one]

When labelling locations on your map use numbers not letters.  Or you’ll be stuck when you reach 26 locations!

Just to let you know the details of the post-exam jolly to Northern Ireland will be finalised and emailed in the next few days.

The date has been set for June 27th/28th/29th

You will have to book your own flights, but accommodation and mini bus will subsidised

We’ll be in touch…………………….

At the end of this month will see the first of our monthly geological walks around London. Our great capital city is built upon clay, but achitects compensated for this by importing all manner of stone to build and decorate with.
The first tour will be around the Bloomsbury area, date to be confirmed.
Everyone is welcome; members, non-members, family, friends, pets.
It will rounded off by lunch

Firstly, may we extend a warm welcome to all students starting a new academic year at Birkbeck.

This letter is just to introduce and/or remind you of the Birkbeck Student Geological Society and outline some of the up-coming activities.

Membership of the Society costs £7.00 per student for the academic year and is open to all Birkbeck students past and present.
Subs can be handed to us during break times Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. Please make cheques payable to Birkbeck College Students Union

Autumn Term 2007

2nd November 2007, 6.30 pm
Our very own Professor Hilary Downes has agreed to resurrect her talk of the geology of Transylvania, in the Garwood lecture theatre, watch out for any undead who may also attend…………….!

24th and 25th November 2007
David Thompson will be running a weekend field class to the Isle of Wight. Minibuses will leave from the college sharp on the 24th and will catch the ferry from Portsmouth. On arrival we will be going straight into the field and in the evening will book in to the hotel in Shanklin.
Single, double and triple rooms (a double bed and a bunk bed) are available and will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Costs are to be confirmed but payment in advance is required for attendance. This is for BSGS members only.
Anyone wishing to come along under their own steam, to the Isle of Wight is welcome, but again please we need to know in advance that you are coming and that you are making your own way there.
Should anyone wishing to attend have any particular needs or requirements we need to know these in advance so that we can try to meet your needs. The more time we have, the more we can do to help and accommodate.
More details will be forthcoming in the near future.
The deadline for signing up to this trip is Wednesday 14th November.

Friday 7th December
The Society Christmas Party is at the Marlborough public house starting about 7pm and running ‘til around midnight. Admission costs £5 for members and £12 for non-members and covers admission, nibbles and a free drink form the BSGS

Forthcoming events for next term include;

• Another field class is being planned for February, destination to be confirmed

• Geological walking tours around London; London may have been built upon clay, but architects have compensated for this by using all manor of stone for decoration. These walks will be on Sundays and open to members, friends, family, pets etc. They will be free to all to join in and then rounded off by a pub/ restaurant lunch

• More Guest Speakers.

If you have any queries or suggestions please contact any of the following people who are officers of the Society

Jo Sonnex (President)
Bernie O’Hara (Treasurer)
Chris Bristow (Secretary)

There is a Society email address on which we can be contacted if there are any queries and you either cannot find us in person or are distance learners
lokiandbart@hotmail.com

We look forward to seeing you some time

Jo Sonnex
President Birkbeck Students’ Geological Society