Earth Science Week 2024
To celebrate our fourteenth year of involvement in Earth Science Week, the Society hosted, sponsored, and promoted over 60 in-person events throughout the UK
Earth Science Week promotes responsible stewardship of Earth through events and opportunities to discover Earth sciences, involving community groups, educators, and citizens. Each October, the Geological Society coordinates Earth Science Week, in cooperation with the American Geoscience Institute and the international geoscience community. The theme for 2024 was ‘Earth Science Everywhere’ and took place between 13 and 19 October. The Society was involved in and supported a variety of events, including film screenings, exhibitions, public lectures, and tours.
Burlington House film screenings
To attract new audiences, the Society hosted two film screenings. The first saw over 60 members of the public come together for a special screening of the iconic Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001). Attendees enjoyed a drinks reception and a fantastic display on the geology of Middle Earth. We also inspired our youngest audiences by hosting a free family fun day where 90 children and their families watched a screening of Ice Age (2002) accompanied by five interactive and hands-on activities to enjoy themes around past climate, ice ages, and prehistoric life. Activities were supported by the Linnean Society, Open University, and Natural History Museum.
Special public lecture
Harry Young delivered a special public lecture discussing the creation of his viral rock map of Scotland (fondly named by Harry as ‘Scotch on the Rocks’), which he began in 1992 and completed in 2020. Harry’s map went viral on social media in early 2024 after being viewed over six million times and was exhibited to members of the public in Burlington House in summer 2024.
Harry’s public lecture is available to watch on the Society’s YouTube channel.
Harry Young’s “Scotch on the Rocks”
Earth Science across the UK
To encourage and support Earth science education beyond our Earth Science Week events, we developed school resources for Key Stages 2-5 (available on the Geological Society website). Additionally, through our Earth Science Week grants programme, we were able to expand our reach outside of London, supporting individuals and organisations to run their own Earth Science Week. This year was our most successful grants programme to date, supplying nine groups with funding to help them deliver geology field trips, children’s playgroups, planetarium sessions, poetry, dance, and film screenings across the UK.
