January 7, 2022

The education of Miss Phillips

A few years ago, with Dr Tori Herridge, I wrote a Trowelblazers article about the marvellous Anne Phillips. As Anne’s Wikipedia page makes clear, geologist and science historian Dr Nina Morgan has been crucial in uncovering many details of Miss Phillips’ life and work, including important contributions to geological science. I very much enjoyed Nina’s recent article explaining how rail...

Categories Research

November 25, 2021

The Big Brigg GeoBlitz!

Filey Brigg, on the North Yorkshire coast, is a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its Jurassic geology and its importance as a wintering habitat for small purple dinosaurs. It has much more to offer, though – something for almost every species of natural scientist, it transpires: Like palaeontology? Filey Brigg has body and trace fossils! Like sedimentology? Filey Brigg...

Categories Outreach/Teaching

July 23, 2021

FossilHub 2022 – dates for your diary!

From family fossil hunts on the coast to online classes exploring geological history, 2022 promises to be a bumper year of fossil and Earth science events here at FossilHub HQ. Please find below a mid-December summary of the activities that are already lined up: In January 2022, the York Residents’ Festival takes place over the weekend of the 29th and...

Categories Outreach/Teaching

July 22, 2021

The Great York Fossil Hunt

Can you really find fossils on the historic streets of York? Yes you can, as we explain in this introductory video: Fossils such as ammonites, bivalves, burrows, corals and crinoids can all be found in the cobbled streets, buildings, and gardens of York. You can download a short guide to them below: If you’re interested in hunting for fossils in...

Categories Outreach/Teaching

June 25, 2021

York Hidden History walks

Coming to the ancient streets of York for the summer of 2021 – York Hidden History walks! Thanks to CEED funding from Let’s Circus, part of Arts Council England‘s #HereForCulture scheme, Dr Simon Rogerson and I have been able to run free, public tests of our four new York Hidden History walks. Now, we’re ready to launch them properly! York...

Categories Outreach

April 23, 2021

2021 Fossils and Geology events

Please find below a list of the fossils and geology events and activities I am leading, or involved with, in 2021: New for 2021, our York Hidden History walks (with Dr Simon Rogerson) are now up-and-running, with a theme of ‘Elemental York’. Each walk takes place within the mediaeval city walls of York, and lasts around 2 hours. Tickets are...

Categories Outreach/Teaching

April 16, 2021

Stratum Young

Stratum Young is my new project to take Earth science into primary schools in the most-deprived parts of Yorkshire. Working with pupils, teachers, and local communities, Stratum Young will develop fun, fossil-flavoured activities to engage children with our amazing geology and palaeontology. And thanks to generous funding from the Yorkshire Geological Society‘s Geoscience Communications Fund, the first phase of Stratum...

Categories #StratumYoung/Outreach/Teaching

January 25, 2021

Yorkshire Coast Fossils

What books should you buy if you’re interested in Yorkshire Coast fossils? Well, I recommend these ones: The Geology of the Yorkshire Coast (Pete Rawson & John Wright) – Geologists Association field guide. Trilobites, Dinosaurs & Mammoths (James McKay) – beautifully illustrated introduction to Britain’s prehistoric life. Yorkshire Rock (Richard Bell) – another splendidly illustrated introduction, this time to the...

Categories Teaching

December 8, 2020

Trilobites: an introduction

This page provides resources for the Hidden University class ‘Trilobites: an introduction’ run by Dr Liam Herringshaw of Hidden Horizons. The trilobites handout (including the specimen list) can be downloaded here Online examples of some of the specimens can be found below: Acaste downingiae (Lapworth Museum of Geology) Asaphus cornutus (Virtual Fossil Museum) Calymene blumenbachii (Lapworth Museum of Geology) Cybantyx...

Categories Outreach/Teaching

November 10, 2020

An Introduction To Fossils

The materials used/mentioned in my Hidden Horizons online palaeontology course, An Introduction To Fossils, can be found below. The specimens in the GeoEd ‘Diversity of Life‘ set are as follows: Fossil name Fossil type Higher group Age Where from? Acervularia luxurans Coral Cnidarians Silurian UK Albertosaurus sp. Dinosaur tooth Reptiles Late Cretaceous Canada Calymene blumenbachii Trilobite Arthropods Silurian Dudley, UK...

Categories Outreach/Teaching