News 2015
"Between a Rock and a Hard Place" with Professor Iain Stewart
Prof. Iain Stewart will present an interesting and informative talk at UCC (Wed 11th November) based on his work popularising geoscience.
The UCC Geological Society, in cooperation with the School of BEES, present the BBC presenter and professor of geoscience communication at the University of Plymouth.
Geoscientific knowledge and understanding lies at the heart of many of the most critical societal issues that face us in the 21st century. The pressing human challenges of natural disaster reduction, energy supply and security, and mineral and water resource management, rest on geological foundations. And yet, outside of the academic and industrial geoscience community there is a limited appreciation of Earth Science, especially among policy makers and the wider public.
The result is that geology is largely out of sight and out of mind. It is for that reason that professional geologists are increasingly being encouraged to communicate more broadly what they do and what they know. Yet how can we do that when, for most people, geology is about 'stones' and stones are 'boring'! It is a problem compounded by the fact that many of our most acute geo-issues pertain to the unfamiliar realm of the deep subsurface.
This talk will use a decade of experience in popularising geoscience to explore ways in which geologists can make our subject connect better with the disinterested public, and in doing so develop more effective strategies for meaningful public engagement.
All are welcome to this public lecture by Prof. Iain Stewart at 6.30pm, Boole 1, Weds 11th November.