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Programme of Indoor Meetings 2010 - 2011
The programme of indoor meetings for 2009-10 has concluded. The programme can be seen here for reference only.Currently known details of the 2010-11 programme are given below. Further details will be added as they become available.
Wednesday evening meetings are mostly at 7.00 pm but individual meeting start times will be published in due course. Saturday seminars are at 10.30 am or 1.30 pm
Wednesday 13 October 2010 - Meteorites, Stardust and the Early Solar System
Professor Jamie Gilmour, University of ManchesterSaturday 13 November 2010 - The Broadhurst Lectures: Jurassic Seas, Jurassic Skies
Many MGA members will remember Dr. Fred Broadhurst, a former member of staff in the Geology Department (as then was) of Manchester University, with great affection. Fred, a past-President and honorary member of the MGA, who died in October last year, gave great encouragement and support to the MGA and its members over many decades. In this day of talks, the MGA celebrates the life and work of Fred, by looking at some topics that he himself was interested in, given by people who knew and worked with him.Burrowing Bivalves and Shuffling Shrimps: What can trace fossils tell us about the sediments in the Jurassic? - Dr. Peter Hardy, University of Bristol
Feeding Habits of Jurassic Ichthyosaurs and Sharks - Dr. John Pollard, University of Manchester
Breathing New Life into Old Bones: bringing plesiosaurs to life - Dr. Leslie Noè, Universities of Birmingham and Cambridge
Airborne in the Jurassic: Pterosaurs diversify - Dr. Dave Martill, University of Portsmouth
The Life of Archaeopteryx - Dr. Derek Yalden, University of Manchester
In the Jurassic Britain lay about twenty degrees north of the Equator, enjoying a warm Caribbean climate. The sea level was much higher than today, so that most of lowland Britain was submerged. Forests of cycads, ferns and pines covered the land.
Marine life thrived in the warm seas - crinoids, corals, ammonites, belemnites and fish. A variety of predators, such as ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs, hunted them. Ichthyosaurs, dolphin-shaped reptiles with long, tooth-lined jaws, extremely large eyes and flipper-like limbs, fed on fish and belemnites. Another group of predators, the plesiosaurs, had very long necks and two pairs of flippers used for swimming. Some species of ichthyosaur and plesiosaur grew to a very large size and would have been formidable hunters.
Pterosaurs also hunted fish - from the air! They were flying reptiles (in fact, the earliest known flying vertebrates) possessing long jaws lined with teeth, the front ones of which were usually longer than the others and ideal for impaling fish. The fourth digit of the forelimb had become greatly elongated, strengthened and covered by a membrane to form a wing. Also flying in the late Jurassic were the first birds, Archaeopteryx, which had wings and tail covered by feathers, whilst retaining some reptilian features, such as teeth-lined jaws and a bony tail.
Saturday 11 December 2010 - The Quaternary of the North West
New Insights into the pre Late Devensian Succession of East Cheshire - Professor Peter Worsley, University of ReadingThe last Ice Sheet and later Glaciers in Wales: Timings, Extents and associated Palaeoclimates - Dr. Phil Hughes, University of Manchester
Moraines and Outwash Plains: A Re-assessment of the late Devensian in South Lancashire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester - Dr. Dick Crofts, British Geological Survey
Glacial Lake Deposits and Reconstructing Deglaciation in Northwest England - Dr. Cathy Delaney, Manchester Metropolitan University
Saturday 15 January 2011 - To be announced
Wednesday 16 February 2011 - AGM followed by Presidential Address
Dr. Tony Adams, University of ManchesterWednesday 9 March 2011 - Geohazards
Dr. Jeff Blackford, University of ManchesterJoint Meeting with the Geographical Association, 6.30pm
Meetings are held in the Williamson Building, Oxford Road, opposite The Manchester Museum.
Tea, coffee and biscuits are available at 6.30 pm in the upstairs foyer before evening meetings, or during the break in afternoon seminars.
Further information about any indoor meetings: email lectures@mangeolassoc.org.uk
Further information about the MGA from the Hon. Gen. Sec. Sue Plumb, email secretary@mangeolassoc.org.uk
For Field Excursions contact Jane Michael, outdoors@mangeolassoc.org.uk