Edinburgh Geological Society
Encyclopedia
The Edinburgh Geological Society was founded in 1834 in Edinburgh
, Scotland
, with the aim of stimulating public interest in geology
and the advancement of geological knowledge. It was a time of debate and controversy surrounding the emerging science of geology and Edinburgh was one of the centres of this debate, which is why the Society is among the oldest of the Scottish scientific societies.
Throughout its 170-year history, the Society has seen major changes in geological thinking, from Darwin
's theories of evolution
to the modern ideas on plate tectonics
. The Society still seeks to stimulate public interest and offers a range of facilities to members including lectures, excursions, publications and the maintenance of a geological library.
in the heart of Edinburgh. They were all students of Alexander Rose and from then on they met in his house in Drummond Street
. They elected John Castle as their first President but a few months later, Rose was elected President and remained in that post for 11 years.
Medal to a scientist who has either contributed to the understanding of geology in Scotland and the north of England, or a geologist from that area who has made a significant contribution to geology internationally.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, with the aim of stimulating public interest in geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
and the advancement of geological knowledge. It was a time of debate and controversy surrounding the emerging science of geology and Edinburgh was one of the centres of this debate, which is why the Society is among the oldest of the Scottish scientific societies.
Throughout its 170-year history, the Society has seen major changes in geological thinking, from Darwin
Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin FRS was an English naturalist. He established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestry, and proposed the scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection.He published his theory...
's theories of evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
to the modern ideas on plate tectonics
Plate tectonics
Plate tectonics is a scientific theory that describes the large scale motions of Earth's lithosphere...
. The Society still seeks to stimulate public interest and offers a range of facilities to members including lectures, excursions, publications and the maintenance of a geological library.
History
The Society was founded in 1834 by eleven students from the department of Geology and Mineralogy of Queen's College, Edinburgh. They met in Robertson's Tavern, Milne's Close, Edinburgh and resolved to start a geological society 'for discussion and mutual instruction'. At their first scientific meeting, they argued about the volcanic origin of Arthur's SeatArthur's Seat, Edinburgh
Arthur's Seat is the main peak of the group of hills which form most of Holyrood Park, described by Robert Louis Stevenson as "a hill for magnitude, a mountain in virtue of its bold design". It is situated in the centre of the city of Edinburgh, about a mile to the east of Edinburgh Castle...
in the heart of Edinburgh. They were all students of Alexander Rose and from then on they met in his house in Drummond Street
Drummond Street, Edinburgh
Drummond Street is a street in Edinburgh's Old Town, near the famous Royal Mile and Holyrood. The street joins South Bridge and the Pleasance. Its west most opening is opposite the University of Edinburgh School of Law located at Old College....
. They elected John Castle as their first President but a few months later, Rose was elected President and remained in that post for 11 years.
Notable Presidents of the Society
- 1834–35: John Castle — student: first President
- 1835–46: Alexander Rose — lecturer at Queen's College, Edinburgh: 'father of the Society'
- 1874–89: David Milne-HomeDavid Milne-HomeDavid Milne-Home FRSE was a Scottish advocate, geologist and meteorologist....
— Advocate, geologist and meteorologist: longest tenure as President - 1908–10: Charles Clough — Geological Survey field geologist
Lectures
From October to March, a varied programme of illustrated lectures is presented. Each year, a celebrity lecture is given by a geologist of international repute, who is invited jointly by the Society and the Geological Society of Glasgow. There is an annual Members' Night, where members can give accounts of their own geological interests, specimens or travels.Excursions
From April to October the Society organises a number of excursions to sites of geological interest. Each trip is led by someone with a special knowledge of the locality.Awards
The Society annually awards the CloughCharles Clough
Charles Sidney Clough is an American painter. His art has been exhibited in over 60 solo and over 150 group exhibitions throughout North America and Europe and is included in the permanent collections of over 70 museums.-Early life and education:Charles Clough was born and raised in Buffalo, New...
Medal to a scientist who has either contributed to the understanding of geology in Scotland and the north of England, or a geologist from that area who has made a significant contribution to geology internationally.