For our first Friday photo of 2013, we have this incredible image of a smoking volcano, taken during field work at Mt Etna, Sicily. The tripod in the foreground is monitoring the composition of the volcanic gases. Credit: Robin Wylie (c) Geology for Global Development
VolcanicDegassing
Field report: beware of the sealions
Beware of the sealions (‘cuidado lobos marinos’) declares the sign at Valdivia fish market, which stretches along the docks in this southern Chilean city. And it’s no joke either, as a large clan of these creatures has set up stall in the estuary beneath the fish market, ready to feast on the daily pickings cast over the sea rail. We are not here, however, to admire the sealife; or to ...[Read More]
Geology for Global Development
Conference: Geophysics in Future Energy Challenges
The British Geophysical Association is hosting a two day conference on the 14th and 15th of February, 2013. The focus of the conference will be the use of geophysics in future energy challenges. Novel geophysical techniques will be needed to maximise output from conventional reserves and safely explore unconventional reserves. Once the deep reserves are depleted, the empty pore spaces in the rock ...[Read More]
Geology for Global Development
Natural Resources: A Natural Hazard?
In this post I explore some of the issues that can arise when an economy is dominated by the oil or mining industry. I discuss some of the inherent problems with the nature of the extraction industry. In next week’s blog post, I will move on to talking about how we can manage the extraction industry responsibly. Although I manage the GfGD Blog, in this instance I am blogging in a personal ca ...[Read More]
Geology for Global Development
A Christmas Message from GfGD
We will be taking a break from blogging until the New Year, and we wanted to take this chance to wish all of our readers a very merry Christmas. In 2012 we ran our first blog competition, expanded our university group network, organised our first GfGD placement, established a national committee and re-housed our blog within the EGU Blog network. Joel Gill, GfGD Director, wishes to end 2012 with a ...[Read More]
VolcanicDegassing
OxfordSparks: animating volcanoes
Today sees the launch of a project that I have been working on for the past few months – with the release of a short YouTube animation which explores processes in subduction zones. This is a part of a larger-scale public engagement activity called OxfordSparks which has been coming together over the past eighteen months. This project has brought together a great creative team from across Oxf ...[Read More]
Geology for Global Development
Guest Blog: Earthquake Risk Reduction in Bangladesh
Dr Susanne Sargeant works as a seismologist for the British Geological Survey. Susanne is undertaking work on the enhancement of knowledge exchange between earthquake scientists and NGOs for disaster risk reduction, preparedness and response. Her research is an excellent example of the integration of geoscience and development, and she is a member of GfGD’s Advisory Group. Here Susanne guest ...[Read More]
Geology for Global Development
Friday Photo (61): Active Geology – River terraces in Kazakhstan
River terraces cutting into Cenozoic sediments in Kazakhstan. River terraces are flood plains that have moved away from the river, in this case because the land was vertically displaced during fault movement. Credit: Tim Middleton (c) Geology for Global Development
Geology for Global Development
The International Association for Promoting Geoethics
As geoscientists we have to consider the human impact of the decisions we make throughout our careers. There are many circumstances that require us to consider and discuss the ethical code of our profession. Developing the necessary soft skills and creating a forum for the discussion of ethical issues is one of the aims of Geology for Global Development. The International Association for Promotin ...[Read More]
Geology for Global Development
Reducing the Risk of Future Disasters
GfGD welcomes the release of the UK Government Office for Science Foresight Report into “Reducing the Risks of Future Disasters: Priorities for decision makers”. The report has been specially commissioned to recognise the growing need for good disaster and risk reduction (DRR) science. The report describes how the growing threat of natural hazards to increasingly vulnerable communities worldwide c ...[Read More]