My friend discovered a dinosaur & now it’s named after him!
Discovering a dinosaur must be every fossil-hunter’s dream, right? It’s a dream that motivates many young geologists to pursue a career in palaeontology, the study of dinosaurs. We’re excited to announce Week 7 of our Dig Deeper series as the first of our planned Geological Tales, capturing the story-telling behind many geological discoveries. In this presentation, fossil expert and Rockwatch supporter, Robert Chandler, charms us with...
Coastal Protection at Swanage
Week 6 of our Dig Deeper series is the third in the series by geology expert, Alan Holiday on the topic of coastal defences, with its focus on Coastal Protection at Swanage. Situated to the East of Purbeck and South of Poole and therefore part of England’s beautiful Jurassic Coastline, Swanage Bay tells its own geological story with its characteristic chalk and limestone rock types along with sandstone and clay. Alan shows how the...
Join this year’s Rockstar Royalty
Join this year’s Rockstar Royalty and you could be crowned one of our Rockstar 2020 winners and be in with a chance of winning some fantastic prizes! And because many schools are having a staggered return this year, we’ve extended the competition deadline to Monday 21st September – giving you more time to enter! Entries can be handmade and hand written projects like this smashing Coronation Crown featuring the Queen’s...
Dig Deeper: Week 5 – Jurassicgirl Journeys from Spyway Barn to Dancing Ledge, Dorset
For week 5 of our Dig Deeper series, we’re delighted to be featuring Jurassicgirl, aka Dr Anjana Khatwa, on one of her popular vlog field trips from Spyway Barn to Dancing Ledge in Dorset. Anjana is an Earth Scientist and Rockwatch fan, known for bringing her love of rocks and fossils to the masses through her many TV and YouTube appearances, on programmes like BBC Two’s Fossil Detectives. Anjana’s accessible and entertaining style...
Dig Deeper: Week 4 – Weymouth Bay Coastal Defences in pictures, past and present
Week four of our Dig Deeper series explores the theme of coastal defences again but this time we’re in Weymouth and the story will be told through photographs. Weymouth geology expert, Alan Holiday returns to present a unique longitudinal insight into coastal erosion in the Weymouth Bay area. Alan chronicles more than a century of geological changes through photographs dating back to the early 1900’s, right up to the present day. In...
Be inspired to become a 2020 Rockstar!
Previous Rockstar Entries and-inside-the-decorated-box Image 1 of 29 Jurassic Box There’s still plenty of time to get creative and send us your entry for this year’s Rockstars and Rockwriter Competition. Have a look at previous entries in the gallery photos above to help get those creative juices flowing and inspire you to become one of this year’s Rockstars! There are different age categories for the Rockstars...
Dig Deeper: Week 3 – Coastal Defences at Lyme Regis
Week three of our Dig Deeper series takes Rockwatchers to a place many consider to be the birthplace of earth sciences – Lyme Regis. Retired teacher and resident expert in geography and geology of Weymouth and its surrounding areas, Alan Holiday explores why Lyme Regis is such a haven for geologists. As a regular Rockwatch magazine contributor and field trip leader, Alan is the perfect person to show us why the underlying geology at...
The Earth’s a Pizza Recipe
Sent in by Rockwatcher, Benedict Douglas One day, when I sliced up a pizza for my dinner, I saw the inner workings of the Earth! Don’t believe me? Make a ‘Pizza Earth’ for yourself – then gobble it up afterwards! Follow these steps carefully – with an adult to help – to make a truly terrific terrestrial treat! See the Ingredients and Method below to find out how… Always make sure you have a responsible adult with you when...
Mercury Meringue Recipe
Sent in by Rockwatcher, Amina Nelson Riggott Mercury is very close to the sun and its surface has plains and mountainous areas like the moon, as well as a lot of impact craters. It was hit by lots of meteors in the ‘late heavy bombardment’ period and as well as craters. This caused lots of volcanic activity. It has a massive crater called the Caloris Basin which is nearly 1600 km wide and nearby is some unusual hilly land called ‘The...
Sun Brulee Recipe
Sent in by Rockwatcher, Amina Nelson Riggott The sun is at the centre of our solar system and it’s a ball of extremely hot gas. It’s the heaviest thing in the solar system and holds all the other planets in place by gravity. It doesn’t have any geological features as it’s a star not a planet, but if you look at its surface through a Hydrogen Alpha telescope you can see that it looks like bubbling grains with marks on (sunspots,...
Bone Cancer Diagnosed in Dinosaur
Rockwatchers interested in the fields of geology and medicine may be intrigued to read a post written by Gretchen Vogel of Science magazine that reports on some fascinating findings recently published in The Lancet Oncology confirming a bone cancer diagnosis in a dinosaur. The dinosaur bone belonged to a Centrosaurus, which was a horned, plant-eating dinosaur. This particular dinosaur, discovered in Alberta in Canada, lived...
Fossil of Hell Ant proves different killer strategy
Rockwatchers may be interested to read a post written by Lucy Hicks of Science magazine who reports on a new-found fossil which proves how an ancient species of ants known as Hell Ants – or Ceratomyrmex ellenbergeri – killed their prey differently to modern ants. Lucy writes that the scientists who wrote the paper for Current Biology believe that these ancient extinct species of ants caught and killed prey by moving its...
Free online film and Q&A on travelling time with rocks
Rockwatchers who have already caught up with our most recent instalment in the Dig Deeper series About Time by Dr Robert Chandler will be interested to know there’s an online event taking place this Wednesday 12th August from 10.00-11.30am, with Dr Anjana Khatwa on this very subject. Anjana – also known as JurassicGirl – will be doing a spot of time travelling herself to reveal the mysteries hidden inside rocks that...
Dig Deeper – About Time
Week two of our Dig Deeper series is About Time – a field trip with a difference. In fact, Dr Robert Chandler will be taking you on a journey through and about time. Dr Who fans will appreciate the analogy for sure! Robert had his passion for geology sparked as a young boy and spent his entire career passing on this passion as a teacher to many young people, and now as a Rockwatch Ambassador, brings his expertise and passion to...
Rockwatch Treasurer and Committee Member, John Crocker sadly died
We are very sad to report the death of Dr John Crocker on 22nd May 2020. John had been the Rockwatch Treasurer and a greatly valued member of the Rockwatch Management Committee for many years. Part of John’s Chemistry degree was a course in Geology which led to a lifelong fascination of the subject – mainly rocks and minerals. He loved to go out into the field and collect specimens and ‘read’ the landscape. The picture shows...
Dig Deeper: Fossils and Geology at Coombe Quarry, Mapperton
The first field trip from home in our Dig Deeper series comes to us thanks to geology expert and Rockwatch friend, Dr Robert Chandler. Well known for his knowledge of the West Country, Robert shares many stories about a geologically significant site called Coombe Quarry. In fact, Rockwatchers may well have met Robert on previous field trips to this very quarry! This trip takes readers right back to the Jurassic Period, though...
Summer Science Online talks freely available for all
Great news. The Royal Society’s Summer Science Online programme of talks and videos on a variety of fascinating topics, delivered earlier this month, has been made available for you to enjoy for longer from home. Head over to the Royal Society website and explore all the content for free! Content is generally suitable for science enthusiasts aged 12+. Enjoy!...
Celebrating Ocean Mapmaker Marie Tharp
Geolog Blog has published a fascinating tribute today to mark 100 years since the birth of Marie Tharp. Marie Tharp is hailed as a pioneer and idol to female geoscientists because of her important discoveries from the 1950’s to the 1990’s. Marie produced the first maps of the ocean floor at a time when little was known about them. Her work was key to developing the theory of plate tectonics. Her achievements are admired...
Dig Deeper and explore some fascinating geological sites and topics with experts
Rockwatch is thrilled to launch its new Dig Deeper series for Rockwatchers, where budding geologists will be able to explore geological sites and topics on the website thanks to our amazing team of geological experts! Renowned geologists – and regular Rockwatch ambassadors from around the UK – have rallied together during lockdown and beyond to bring you a series of field trips, essays, presentations and activities you can...
Issue 85 of the Rockwatch Magazine: published July 2020
Issue 85 Contents List: published July 2020 INSIDE THE MIND OF PROTEROSUCHUS Image 1 of 6 INSIDE THE MIND OF PROTEROSUCHUS SNACKS FROM SPACE Recipes inspired by our Solar System planets INSIDE THE MIND OF PROTEROSUCHUS Researching an extinction event survivor YELLOWSTONE: RIVERS DEEP, FOUNTAINS HIGH An imagined visit to the American national park POLLEN GRAINS: FOSSILS NOT TO BE SNIFFED AT Clues that pollen gives about climate change...
Summer Science Online Starts Today!
Already on school holidays or just want a break from the school day? Fancy doing some fun online activities? Well you’re in luck. The Royal Society’s Summer Science Festival starts today! There are online activities for you to enjoy every day this week, starting with a look at the psychology of doping and what factors might lead an athlete to cheat. There’s also a Doodle of the day on Twitter at 1pm and you can tune...
Festival of Geology 2020 – save the dates!
Exciting News! This year’s Festival of Geology – brought to you by the Geologists’ Association – will be taking place online on the 7th and 8th November. As always, Rockwatch will be involved in the fun and it will be totally FREE. We’ll share more details about what you can look forward to over the coming months but for now pop the dates in your...
The Royal Society’s Summer Science Online Festival
Rockwatchers may be interested to explore The Royal Society’s Summer Science festival which takes place online from 13 – 17 July. It’s a packed itinerary featuring a free digital programme of talks, quizzes and videos celebrating cutting-edge and historic science. A great way to enjoy science from the comfort of your own...
Issue 84 of the Rockwatch Magazine: published April 2020
Issue 84 Contents List: published April 2020 THE FIRST DINOSAUR HUNTERS Image 1 of 7 Victorian palaeontologists IN THE LAND OF ICE AND FIRE Seeing the geological wonders of Iceland GEOLOGY ON MY DOORSTEP Spotting the stony stories of town streets TRACING THE BIGGEST BLAST World-shaking volcanic eruptions THE FIRST DINOSAUR HUNTERS Victorian palaeontologists LIVING MY DINOSAUR DREAM Digging for remains in the USA HATCHING A STONE EGG...