Helen Ashcroft is currently a DPhil student at the University of Oxford. She blogs for the Bang! Science Magazine (Planet Blog) and is also a STEMNET Ambassador, working to promote science, technology, maths and engineering to young people. Jim Cust, a graduate student in economics, presented this term’s Oxford University Group GfGD seminar. In addition to his research Jim is also a directo ...[Read More]
Geology for Global Development
New Placement Opportunities – Deadline Midday 2nd June 2013
Placements give students a valuable opportunity to get an insight into the international development sector, consider what key skills they need to develop to contribute to such work, and better understand the role of geoscience in fighting poverty. Following successful placements with the NGO CAFOD, GfGD are delighted to announce two new placement opportunities for UK-based geoscience students  ...[Read More]
Geology for Global Development
Friday Photo (79): Wildlife in the Field – the Underside of a Cricket
The underside of a cricket in focus against a blurred carbonate ramp succession in the background. Taken in Namibia in 2012. Send us your favourite photos of wild encounters whilst out in the field! Blog[at]gfgd.org (c) Geology for Global Development 2013
Geology for Global Development
GfGD Recommends: Other Good Blogs!
A new generation of scientists are embracing the chance to interact with each other and the public through social media (twitter, facebook pages and blogs). We’ve looked around and picked out some of our favourite geoscience blogs. Why not consider starting a blog for yourself or your research group? You could write about your own research, the best bits from your lectures or items in the ne ...[Read More]
GeoSphere
Tools of the Trade
It is already May!! Crazy. Everyone in the department is incredibly busy right now trying to get all of those things on their winter to-do list checked off before it is time to head out to the field once again and re-fill the to-do list for next winter with sample prep, analysis and some interpretation. It is also time to start thinking of preparing for the field. Some of you hard rock folk might ...[Read More]
Green Tea and Velociraptors
Conservation biology – let’s get integrated!
Conserving our world’s biodiversity is currently one of the biggest challenges we face. I wrote a post recently about some of the issues palaeontologists face when trying to make our science relative to current conservation management and biodiversity issues (and have written elsewhere about this too). This is very much a developing issue within which palaeontology is framing itself, as with ever ...[Read More]
GeoSphere
Geology Photo of the Week #33
The photo of the week this week is of a very special place in Canada. Yes, predictably, it is the Yukon. However, this part of the Yukon is unique. It is a special region known as Beringia, which extends into Alaska and Siberia and it is the only part of Canada that was not covered by kilometers of ice during the last glaciation. Beringia is a special place because it is believed that that first h ...[Read More]
Geology for Global Development
Chinese-African Partnerships: Impact in the Mining Industry
China has boosted its aid contribution to the African continent. Whilst the total is still low compared with the US aid budget, the trend signifies a wider partnership between the two giants. In the UK, international aid is mainly spent on protecting our national interests. China is emerging as an economic superpower and as a major aid donor, and this raises the question – what interest does ...[Read More]
VolcanicDegassing
Timelapse volcanoes in Google’s Earth Engine
With the marvels of technology and the generosity of Google and NASA, we can now sit back and watch the back catalogue of volcanic eruptions using the magnificent Google Earth Timelapse of Landsat images. Here are just a few that I have picked out.. Enjoy, and do send more suggestions! Anatahan, Marianas, erupted in 2005. Anatahan Timelapse Chaiten, Chile. Erupted in May 2008: look for the splash ...[Read More]
Geology for Global Development
Friday Photo (78): Wildlife in the Field – Baboons Clinging to Carbonates
Baboons cling onto a steep cliff face on the Hoogland member, Nama group, southern Namibia. Our new Friday Photo series will take a look at some of the wildlife you’ve come across whilst out in the field. Submit your favourite photos, along with a sentence or two about the photo, to blog@gfgd.org (c) Geology for Global Development 2013