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Earth’s magnetic field is critical to our daily lives. The field, which extends far into space, not only provides a vital protective barrier against the solar wind and harmful cosmic radiation, but is also essential to many of our navigation systems.
Yet, driven by the relentless and somewhat chaotic churning of molten metal in Earth’s outer core, the field is far from constant. We’ve known for almost 200 years – since its first discovery in northern Canada by Sir James Clark Ross and his party in 1831 – that magnetic north is gradually migrating towards Siberia. However, its current rate of motion is unprecedented, having dramatically slowed to ~35 km per year in the last five years.
These changes have a significant impact on industries such as subsurface drilling, aviation, shipping and the military, which rely on magnetic navigation systems, so it is essential to regularly measure and model Earth’s magnetic field.
Earth’s magnetic field is far from constant
The latest update to our models was released in January 2025 and on page 24, Ciarán Beggan at the British Geological Survey discusses the huge international, collaborative effort required to achieve this. Ciarán also reassures that while current motions are exceptional, the field strength is high, and a magnetic reversal is unlikely anytime soon.
This edition also includes all the information you’ll need for the Annual General Meeting, President’s Day and the Awards Ceremony (p. 12), which take place on 11 June at Burlington House.
We highlight the remarkable contributions of Wollaston Medallist Barbara Sherwood Lollar (p. 14) and Wollaston Fund recipient Amy McGuire (p. 16). Barbara’s work has transformed our understanding of life on Earth by revealing the existence of an ancient biosphere deep within Earth’s continents, while Amy’s research to reconstruct climatic and environmental conditions in the Quaternary may hold fascinating insights into our own human story.
In other news, I am sad to report that after nearly three years with us, Marissa Lo has left the Geoscientist team to take up a position at the scientific publisher MDPI. Marissa was an asset to the team, not least with her insightful podcast interviews (available at geoscientist.online/section/podcast). She will be missed, and we wish her every success in the next step of her career in publishing and science communication.
I am delighted to say that Hannah Bird has joined the Geoscientist team. Hannah recently completed her PhD in Oceanography, Micropalaeontology, and Climate Science at the University of Birmingham and comes to us with extensive editorial experience, including having been part of the Geoscientist Contributor Team for several years. Welcome, Hannah!
AMY WHITCHURCH
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
