Ben Clarke and Eleri Simpson are about to start their 4th year at the University of Leicester. Having shown a strong interest in applying geoscience to development through the conversations we’ve had with them over the past two years – we were really pleased to hear they has successfully arranged some work experience in Vanuatu. We’re also delighted that Ben and Eleri agreed to w ...[Read More]
Geology for Global Development
Friday Photo (127) – Slow Water Collection, Tanzania
Water Collection – Chato District, Tanzania Some of these women and children in Tanzania had been waiting at these small holes for 5 hours for enough water to seep through the ground to fill their buckets. Understanding enough geoscience to consider (i) changing groundwater levels at different times of the year and (ii) different geological material permeabilities, could have helped remove t ...[Read More]
WaterUnderground
Reducing water scarcity possible by 2050
Press release from McGill University of our research published yesterday in Nature Geoscience. Water scarcity is not a problem just for the developing world. In California, legislators are currently proposing a $7.5 billion emergency water plan to their voters; and U.S. federal officials last year warned residents of Arizona and Nevada that they could face cuts in Colorado River water deliveries i ...[Read More]
Geology for Global Development
GfGD Conference
Register for the 2nd GfGD Conference by the end of August and you’ll be given the chance to win this attractive 60 x 40 cm canvas of geology related pictures. A winner from those registering before 31st August, and in attendance, will be drawn on the day itself. Registration is reasonably priced and easy to do, and we’re expecting a great day. Do let us know if you have any questions o ...[Read More]
VolcanicDegassing
There’s (volcanic) dust in the archives
There’s not much that beats the thrill of discovery.. particularly when it turns up in your own backyard. This summer, I have been on the hunt for records and reports of the 1902 eruptions of St Vincent, a lush volcanic island in the Eastern Caribbean. There are indeed many reports from this eruption, carefully documented in official records from the time. But, more surprisingly, there are ...[Read More]
VolcanicDegassing
Summer Reading – H is for Hawk
Much of my time is consumed with reading, but it is almost always for a purpose: essays, assignments, proposals, drafts of papers, re-drafts of papers, papers for classes, for review.. This almost always means reading fast, with a goal: to measure, assess, hone, distil, critique and rewrite. Often, it means hacking through tangled and cumbersome layers of scientific prose, to reveal the central ...[Read More]
Geology for Global Development
Summer Opportunity – Write a Hazard Factsheet
We’re currently looking for some students on their summer break (or PhD students/recent graduates) to help us write factsheets on hazards in specific countries. Countries we are interested in include the Philippines, Nicaragua, Afghanistan, Columbia and Peru. As these factsheets will be reviewed, formatted, printed and sent to NGOs – this is a great opportunity to utilise your geologic ...[Read More]
Geology for Global Development
GfGD in Tanzania (2) – Monitoring Water Projects
In our post yesterday I discussed the upcoming YES Congress and 25th Colloquium of African Geology in Dar es Salaam (1 – on the map), and introduced the way in which GfGD will be contributing. Following these conferences I will be travelling the 1000+ km distance to Mwanza – a key Tanzanian town on the edge of Lake Victoria, and then proceeding (by boat and car) to Chato (2 – on ...[Read More]
Geology for Global Development
GfGD in Tanzania (1) – Earth Sciences for Improving Livelihoods
The East African country of Tanzania is a remarkable place, home to Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and (for the volcanologists reading this) Ol Doinyo Lengai. It was also visits to communities in the Kagera region of Tanzania in 2009 and 2010 that resulted in GfGD getting off the ground soon afterwards. Since then, Tanzania has been a place closely linked with our progress. In 2 ...[Read More]
WaterUnderground
1200 words to make sense of chaos: The Selker Scheme
This is an inspiring article by John Selker (Oregon State University) that was first published in the latest AGU Hydrology Section Newsletter (July 2014). John graciously offered to re-post it here… make sure you make it to his rules and a secret at the bottom. Being elected a fellow of the AGU was an amazing honor, and I thank those who so kindly nominated me, somehow crafting a silk purse ...[Read More]