The Sedgwick Bicentenary Meeting

Adam Sedgwick was one of the founding fathers of geology, and 2018 marks 200 years since he was appointed to the Woodwardian Chair of Geology at the University of Cambridge. This Chair, established in 1731 by John Woodward, was the first-ever professorship in Earth Sciences and was endowed in Woodward’s will with the proviso that the holder of the Chair should promulgate Woodward’s own views on the history of the Earth and look after Woodward’s extensive collection of rocks, minerals and fossils. This bequest marked the beginning of geological studies in Cambridge, and 1818 marked the beginning of Sedgwick’s illustrious career as a geologist.

We are celebrating this bicentenary with a one-day conference, with an impressive slate of invited speakers who will give us an up-to-date overview of Earth Sciences today and take us forwards into the future. The talks will begin with a brief introduction to Sedgwick and his times, followed by a discussion of how we can predict and mitigate the effects of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. There will be talks on the Anthropocene and the effect we are having on the Earth’s climate,  and an introduction to geology on other planets and the search for extraterrestrial life. We hope you will join us for this exciting programme that is designed to be accessible to a wide audience, from sixth-formers, to alumni and practicing geologists.

Seth Shostak, Senior Astronomer at the SETI Institute will be one of the speakers.

https://www.esc.cam.ac.uk/alumni/sedgwick200

Note: Registration is required to participate in this event