The Lapworth Museum of Geology and School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, is delighted to be hosting the 52nd Earth Sciences Teachers Association Annual Course and Conference 27–29th, September 2019. It has been 25 years since we lasted hosted this meeting in 1994! Our theme for 2019 “From field to classroom” is a broad one, but reflects the foci of the workshops we are offering in support of the new A-level Geology specifications. “Field” refers to the research Birmingham academics have done outdoors, in the lab, on board ship, rock and fossil collections from the field, and how these along with student experiences in the field, are best shared and developed in the classroom.
The venue for the meeting is the Lapworth Museum of Geology. Dating back to 1880, the Lapworth is one of the oldest specialist geological museums in the UK. The Museum is named after Charles Lapworth, the first Professor of Geology at Mason College, the forerunner of the University of Birmingham. Lapworth was one of the most important and influential geologists in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries and the Museum archive contains one of the most complete records of the work of a scientist of that period. The collections contain in excess of 250,000 specimens, a proportion of which are used in teaching and learning at the University and by visiting groups.
One of our Saturday workshops with Aerona Moore (Learning and Engagement Officer – Secondary Schools) will look at how Museum specimens can support A-level learning and teaching. In addition to rocks, fossils and minerals, the Lapworth hosts large collections of early geological maps, equipment, models, photographic material, and also zoological specimens.
The Museum reopened in 2016 following a £2.7 million redevelopment, made possible thanks to a transformative Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant of £1.5 million and the generous support of University of Birmingham alumni, as well as a number of grant awarding bodies, trusts and foundations. During the conference there will be plenty of time to explore the Museum and also see behind the scenes. The centrepiece of the Museum today is our resident Allosaurus “Roary” – next to which we will be seated for the conference meal – let us hope he is not too hungry!
An Exhibition will also take place – if you would like to book a space
please contact for the availability conference@esta-uk.net
For further information please see the attached documents:-
BOOK NOW OR REGISTER YOUR INTEREST IN ATTENDING
by emailing conference@esta-uk.net
Liz Lockwood, ESTA Conference Manager,
28 Pitsford Drive, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 4NZ
Or E: conference@esta-uk.net T: 07597 814170
