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100 Years of Knowing the Age of the Earth Dynamic Topography a Key Surface Record of Deep Earth Processes

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100 Years of Knowing the Age of the Earth Dynamic Topography a Key Surface Record of Deep Earth Processes Geoscientist The Fellowship magazine of The Geological Society of London | www.geolsoc. org.uk | Volume 21 No 5 | June 2011 REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL Could school and college geology be on the rise? LUSI LIKELY TO LIVE ON Indonesia faces another quarter century of mud eruption FIRST DATE follow us on twitter [www.twitter.com/geoscientistmag] 100 years of knowing the age of the Earth Dynamic topography a key surface record of deep Earth processes 1st-2nd1st-2nd SeptemberSeptember 20112011 Burlington House, London, United Kingdom KeynoteKeynote speakers:speakers: Michael Gurnis, Seiissmolloogiccaal Laborraatorryyy,, CCaalliiffoorrnniiaa IInnsttiitute of TTeecchhnologgyyy,, UUSSSAA Alessandro Forte, UUnniverrssité dduu Québec à Monttrréall,, CCaanaddaa InvitedInvited speakers:speakers: Carolina Lithogow-Bertelloni, UUnniverrssittyy of Collllege Londdoonn,, UUKK Jean Braun, UUnniverrssite Joosseepph Fourriierr,, FFrrraance Hans-Peter Bunge, Ludwwiiigg-MMaaaxxiimmiilllllliiiaannss UUnnivveerrssittaat Muunnicchhh,, Gerrmmannyy Evgene Burovv,, IInnstitut ddees Sciieences ddee llaa TTeerrrre ddee PPaariisss,, FFrrraance Reiner Rummel, TTeecchhniisscchhe UUnniverrssittaat Muniiccchhh,, Gerrmmannyy Tony Watts, UUnniverrssittyy of OOxxffoordd,, UK Nicky White, UUnnivveerrssittyy of CCaambrriiddggee,, UK Conveners:Conveners: Roderick Brown, UUnniverrssittyy of Gllaassggoww,, UUKK Patience Cowie, UUnnivveerrssittyy of Berrggenn,, Norwwaaayy Stewart Fishwick, UUnnivveerrssittyy of Leicesterr,, UK Gregory Houseman, UUnniverrssittyy of Leeddsss,, UUKK Michael Kendall, UUnnivveerrssittyy of Brriiisstoll,, UUKK Nicky White, UUnnivveerrssittyy of CCaambrriiddggee,, UK Further information For further information about the conference, please contact: Georgina Worrall The Geological Societyy,, Burlington House, Piccadillyy,, London W1J 0BG T: 020 434 9944 F: 020 7494 0579 E: [email protected] W: www.geolsoc.org.uk/dynamictop CONTENTS GEOSCIENTIST IN THIS ISSUE JUNE 2011 FEATURES 19 GOOD NEWS! Chris King and Ben Jones on a surprising upswing in geoscience examination entries REGULARS 05 WELCOME Is the Society really in democratic deficit? asks Ted Nield 06 GEONEWS What’s new in the world of geoscientific research 08 SOCIETY NEWS What your Society is doing at home and abroad, in London and the regions 12 COVER FEATURE: THE AGE OF THE EARTH 11 SOAPBOX Robin Bailey is fed up with cyclic Cherry Lewis on Arthur Holmes’s first paper on sedimentation the age of the Earth, published 100 years ago 22 LETTERS We welcome your thoughts 23 BOOK & ARTS Two new book reviews by Ted Nield 24 PEOPLE Geoscientists in the news and on the move 27 CALENDAR Society activities this month 29 CROSSWORD Win a special publication of your choice ONLINE SPECIALS I NUCLEAR WAVE Former President Peter Styles delivers his verdict on the nuclear accident at Fukushima, Japan I CHRISTCHURCH QUAKE BGS geologist Dave 07 19 Boon on New Zealand's devastating earthquake www.geolsoc.org.uk/geoscientist JUNE 2011 03 CENTURY ONE PUBLISHING IS THE UK’S BRIGHTEST AWARD-WINNING CONTRACT PUBLISHING AND ADVERTISING SALES AGENCY. WE WORK EXCLUSIVELY WITH MEMBERSHIP ORGANISATIONS GENERATING ADVERTISING REVENUES AND MANAGING ALL OR PART OF THE PUBLISHING FUNCTION To plan your ad campaign in Geoscienst magazine contact: Jonathan Knight t: 01727 739 182 e: [email protected] w: www.centuryonepublishing.ltd.uk 04 JUNE 2011 d EDITOR’S COMMENT GEOSCIENTIST THE AGE OF THE PLANET: VIEW OF EASTERN EARTH & CLOCK FACE Cover image: Shutterstock Image courtesy, NASA's d Goddard Space Flight Center DEMOCRATIC DEFICIT? n the recent consultative ballot, Fellows Geoscientist is the E enquiries@centuryone Fellowship magazine of publishing.ltd.uk elected a geotechnical engineer as President the Geological Society W www.centuryone Designate. We offer our congratulations to of London publishing.ltd.uk David Shilston, the first President to be Contact CHIEF EXECUTIVE drawn from the Geological Society’s most The Geological Society, Nick Simpson Burlington House, Piccadilly, T 01727 893 894 Inumerous specialism. 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