Next Wednesday (26 August), Mallard Days tutor and volcanologist Hannah Wynn will be leading a discussion on volcanic monitoring and prediction throughout history at the Literary and Philosophical Society in Newcastle.
The event starts at 6pm, and is free of charge.
Throughout history, volcanic eruptions have been witnessed and described by man. In the early days, this was done through stories and songs, attributing the eruption to the gods, rather than nature. Over time, stories began to be written down, and people started to become interested in the science behind what happened. One of the most famous early accounts of a volcanic eruption is that written by Pliny the elder (and, after his death, his nephew – Pliny the younger). This talk aims to outline the history of volcanic observation and monitoring before discussing modern day operations, including the science of eruption prediction.
There will also be a section concentrating on how the interiors of volcanoes are modelled (and how this benefits monitoring programs). Various case studies will be discussed, including Hawaii and Vesuvius. After the talk, there will be an opportunity to examine various mineral specimens, as well as volcanic rocks from Tenerife.
To find out more, and to download a free ticket, visit www.litandphil.org.uk/whats-on/ or the event’s Facebook page.
Category: Tutors
Richard to give talk for families at the Lit and Phil
Richard will be giving a talk for families and young people at the Literary and Philosophical Society (The Lit and Phil) in Newcastle-upon-Tyne as part of their open day.
On Saturday 11 July, The Lit and Phil will be holding an open day in their Library on Westgate Road, Newcastle. This is a full day of free events, and includes activities and tours suitable for all the family.
Richard will be speaking at 3pm. His talk, “Astronomy for Kids: A Cosmic Journey” will see Richard and his friend Hodge embark on a journey through space and the solar system. We will explore the amazing size of space, some of the sites in deep space and some a lot closer to home. This event is suitable for everyone over 8 years of age.
To find out more about the Lit and Phil, visit http://www.litandphil.org.uk/. Should you want to book a place on Richard’s talk, please contact the Lit and Phil directly by calling (0191) 232 0192, emailing library@litandphil.org.uk or by calling in to the Lit and Phil on Westgate Road.
Rocks and minerals at the National Glass Centre
As part of their half-term programme, Mallard Days tutor and earth scientist Hannah Wynn presented a rocks and minerals handling session at the National Glass Centre in Sunderland.
Hannah’s session gave members of the public the opportunity to get “up close and personal” with a range of rock and mineral specimens, both from close to home, and all around the world.
It’s amazing just how wide the variety of minerals is, and how their properties vary – even within those formed in similar conditions and in similar places in the world.
Also on show were some samples of volcanic rocks from both Iceland and the Canary Islands which Hannah had collected herself during geological expeditions.
Keep watching on the Mallard Days website for more details of our programme of outreach events over the Summer.
If you would like to have any (or all!) of the Mallard Days team at your event, please don’t hesitate to contact us at admin@mallard-days.com.
Mallard Days tutor Vicky publishes her first novel
Mallard Days tutor Vicky Bending has published her first novel.
Before the Sun Fades is the tale of a traveller who stumbles across a magically concealed valley, venturing in only to find herself trapped inside… with only nine days to lift the curse or escape the valley before her light runs out.
The paperback version can be bought from Amazon or other locations listed on Vicky’s website at https://distantrealms.wordpress.com/buy-books/.
For more details on the book, head to Vicky’s website.