Hugh Miller was a self-taught Scottish geologist born in 1802, whose writings are widely credited with arousing the interest of the public in the new science of geology. In 2017 GCG published what is to date one of the largest issues of our journal dedicated to his life and works. Under our long standing open access policy, this month we are able to make this edition freely available via our website. It represents the culmination of many hours of hard work on the part of the authors and editor, and is well worth a read if you are interested in the geology of Scotland, or in the early history of the science. Head over to the journal page now and download yourself a copy.
If you want access to our latest journals, including the popular Ethics and Pyrite Oxidation special issues, now is a good time to join GCG. You can do this online and get instant access via our Membership page.
We have just heard that the funding target set to retain Charles Lyell's notebooks in the UK as been met via pledges from a wide variety of anonymous and named donors. You can read more on their website
https://www.ed.ac.uk/giving/save-lyell-notebooks
We look forward to learning more soon!
Some of our readers may be aware that the notebooks of renowned Scottish geologist Sir Charles Lyell, have recently been placed under an export ban by the UK government to prevent their sale to a foreign buyer. The University of Edinburgh is currently attempting to raise the funds to purchase them and keep them in this country:
"Charles Lyell’s notebooks, currently in private hands, are due to be sold abroad. We need £1,444,000 to save this vital historical collection. We are supporting the purchase with our own funds but we also need your help. Right now, our challenge is to raise enough funds by 15 July 2019 to secure an extension to 15 October 2019, the final deadline to save the Lyell notebooks."
You can read more about the campaign, and pledge to support it, here:
https://www.ed.ac.uk/giving/save-lyell-notebooks
If you've started planning the year ahead, then please be sure to check out our events page - on the radar so far, we have:
- Trading Nature - organised by the Society for the History of Natural History, in conjunction with GCG
- A workshop on geological fakes in Edinburgh
- Several of our committee and membership are also heavily involved with SVPCA 2019, which this year is on the Isle of Wight.
We also welcomed new members onto our committee, so expect to be hearing from them very soon. Finally, a gentle reminder to our members that your subscription is likely to be due for payment - you can now renew via the website - details can be found here.
If you are not already a member, then now is a really good time to join, you will get the most benefit from your membership by joining early in the year. Regular memberships start from only £20.
The Friends of the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs are fundraising to build a bridge to improve access to the Dinosaur Island which will allow tours, education, conservation and other work to take place. In case you're not encountered them before the "dinosaurs" - there are other animals too, such as marine reptiles and mammals - are the first ever life size reconstructions of prehistoric life. Every movie, museum display or dinosaur adventure park can arguably trace its lineage back to these creatures! They are free to visit if you are ever in London. Read more on their website or head over to the funding page to help out.