THE YEAR IN GEOLOGY

The Geology Department of AGSB has seen a major change this year after Mr Parker joined the department following the retirement of the legendary “Doc Rock” (Dr Stephen). Twenty years after leaving AGSB Mr Parker was delighted to be back at his old school and continue the school’s tradition of excellence in Geology.

2022-23 saw the return of field trips! In September, the Year 11 pupils spent 3 days in Anglesey learning important field skills in, mostly, perfect conditions. Exploring the beautiful coastline of Anglesey allowed the boys to explore all manner of geological environments and expand their knowledge.

March saw the return of the Year 13 Cyprus field course. A week spent on this beautiful Mediterranean island exploring its unique geology gave the Year 13 cohort an excellent opportunity to sharpen their field skills and revise all manner of topics prior to their final few weeks at AGSB and prepare them for the challenges of A-level exams and beyond.

March also saw a group of Year 12 students make it to the finals of the Geology Society Schools Challenge competition. Whilst we did not return with the trophy, the boys were definitely the most stylish team taking part on the day.

In December, the department hosted the inaugural Geology Christmas Lecture. Professor Phil Manning of Manchester University spoke to a packed Coleman Hall about the mass extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs. Prof Manning gave insights into his latest research including the Tanis site in North Dakota which catalogues the events moments after the meteor strike in amazing detail. Plans are already underway for next year’s lecture so keep an eye out for announcements on the Geology department’s Twitter (@agsb_geology) and Instagram (@agsb_geology) pages.

The future is bright for Geology at AGSB with Year 12 and Year 10 field trips in the summer term still to come!