The year aims to raise global environmental awareness, and will demonstrate the role Earth Scientists play in ensuring a safer, healthier and wealthier society.

See www.yearofplanetearth.org for more information.

 

For further information and updates on events please watch this and the following websites:

Geological Survey of Ireland IYPE site www.planetearth.ie for an all Ireland programme of events

Geological Survey of Northern Ireland www.bgs.ac.uk/gsni/iype

Environment & Heritage Service www.ehsni.gov.uk see Popular Site Sections - Events

National Trust www.nationaltrust.org.uk see Local to you - Northern Ireland - Local events

 

EXHIBITS

Planet Earth Our Place In Space

Exhibition of meteorites, moon rock and minerals. National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo. November-February. See www.museum.ie for details

 

Geological Survey of Northern Ireland and Quarry Products Association of Northern Ireland Geology Exhibit at W5

Geology and virtual quarry is open to the public through admission to W5 at the Odyssey Belfast.

 

Environment and Heritage Service Geological garden, Crawfordsburn Country Park

The garden, to be developed during 2008, will represent the geodiversity and associated biodiversity of Northern Ireland and explore the relationship of stone with society.

 

Environment and Heritage Service and Irish Wildlife Trust exhibition - Our limestone heritage

May & June at the Marble Arch Cave visitor centre

Highlighting the importance of limestone to biodiveristy, geodiversity and people.

 

EVENTS

Schools challenge day

13th February at W5

A Geological Survey of Northern Ireland and W5 environmental decision-making exercise for ‘A’ level students of geology, geography, citizenship, government and politics and media studies.

 

Public lecture - A history of biodiversity

7pm 21st February at W5

Renowned geologist and writer Dr Richard Fortey will talk on the history of life on earth.

 

Go get geoscience!

Date TBC at W5

A family event co-run by Geological Survey of Northern Ireland and W5. An opportunity to learn about geology through making fossils, fossil rubbings, gold panning, visiting a virtual quarry, touching and seeing wonderful rock specimens. Participants are invited to bring their own specimens for identification by an expert.

 

Poetry landscape

Date and venue TBC

Poetry landscape combines readings by poets and folklorists with a multimedia backdrop. The event aims to raise environmental awareness and demonstrate the close links between people, nature and the landscape.

 

Guided Walks

The Environment and Heritage Service and National Trust have arranged 20 public excursions, led by experts, to highlight the geodiversity of Northern Ireland.

 

April 19th, 2pm Paul Lyle	GIANT'S CAUSEWAY (1) Column by column - understanding the geology of the Causeway	Causeway National Trust visitors centre - front steps. Parking charge	Field excursions will last for 2 - 3 hours. Wear appropriate footwear and clothing.
April 26th, 2pm Bernard Anderson	BELSHAW'S QUARRY  NR Black and white - understanding the geology of Belshaw's Quarry	Belshaws Quarry lay-by. Grid ref J229 670	Field excursions will last for 2 - 3 hours. Wear appropriate footwear and clothing.
May 3rd, 2pm Tony Bazley	PORTMUCK When the tide goes out - understanding the geology of Portmuck	Portmuck car park, Islandmagee. Grid ref D460 023	Field excursions will last for 2 - 3 hours. Wear appropriate footwear and clothing.
May 10th, 2pm Philip Doughty	SCRABO Reptiles walked this way - understanding the geology of Scrabo Quarry	Scrabo car park. Grid ref J475 722	Field excursions will last for 2 - 3 hours. Wear appropriate footwear and clothing.
May 17th, 2pm EHS staff	KILLARD NR (1) Where the ice met the sea - understanding the geology of Killard Point	Mill Quarter Bay layby Grid ref  J599 441	Field excursions will last for 2 - 3 hours. Wear appropriate footwear and clothing.
May 24th, 2pm Tony Bazley	COLIN GLEN (1) Up the Glen - understanding the geology of Colin Glen	Colin Glen Trust Centre, Stewartstown Road. Grid ref J284 705	Field excursions will last for 2 - 3 hours. Wear appropriate footwear and clothing.
May 31st, 2pm EHS staff	BLOODY BRIDGE / MOURNE COASTAL PATH Granites and turbidites - understanding the geology of the Bloody Bridge coast	Bloody Bridge car park Grid ref J388 271	Field excursions will last for 2 - 3 hours. Wear appropriate footwear and clothing.
June 7th, 2pm Philip Doughty	CROSSMURRIN, KILLYKEEGAN and MARBLE ARCH Disolving the limestone of Fermanagh - understanding the geology of the Marlbank	Marble Arch Cave visitors centre car park. Grid ref H120 345	Field excursions will last for 2 - 3 hours. Wear appropriate footwear and clothing.
June 14th, 2pm Bernard Anderson	CRAWFORDSBURN Deep oceans - understanding the geology of Helen's Bay	Helens Bay car park. Grid ref J458 828	Field excursions will last for 2 - 3 hours. Wear appropriate footwear and clothing.
June 21st, 2pm Paul Lyle	CARRICK-A-REDE AND LARRYBANE (1) Journey to the centre of the volcano - understanding the geology of Carrickarede	In front of Carrickarede visitors facility. Grid ref D051 447. Entrance charge for bridge.	Field excursions will last for 2 - 3 hours. Wear appropriate footwear and clothing.
June 28th, 2pm Tony Bazley	CUSHENDUN Puddingstone, caves and more - understanding the geology of Cushendun	Cushendun car park – north of bridge	Field excursions will last for 2 - 3 hours. Wear appropriate footwear and clothing.
July 19th, 2pm Paul Lyle	GIANT'S CAUSEWAY (2) Column by column - understanding the geology of the Causeway	Causeway National Trust visitors centre - front steps. Parking charge	Field excursions will last for 2 - 3 hours. Wear appropriate footwear and clothing. Bus facility is available if required.
July 26th, 2pm EHS staff	KILLARD NR (2) Where the ice met the sea - understanding the geology of Killard Point	Mill Quarter Bay layby Grid ref  J599 441	Field excursions will last for 2 - 3 hours. Wear appropriate footwear and clothing.
August 2nd, 2pm Philip Doughty	FAIR HEAD AND MURLOUGH BAY A bit of everything - understanding the geology of Murlough Bay and Fair Head	Murlough Bay bottom car park. Grid ref D195 422	Field excursions will last for 2 - 3 hours. Wear appropriate footwear and clothing.
August 9th, 11am Bernard Anderson	KEARNY AND KNOCKINELDER How to make rocks bend - understanding the geology of the Kearney coast	Kearney Village car park. Grid ref J648 517	Field excursions will last for 2 - 3 hours. Wear appropriate footwear and clothing.
August 16th, 2pm Philip Doughty	PORTRUSH NR Life in lava? - understanding the geology of Portrush	In front off Portrush Coastal Zone, Landsdowne Crescent. Grid ref C857 410	Field excursions will last for 2 - 3 hours. Wear appropriate footwear and clothing.
August 23rd, 2pm Tony Bazley	COLIN GLEN (2) Up the Glen - understanding the geology of Colin Glen	Colin Glen Trust Centre, Stewartstown Road. Grid ref J284 705	Field excursions will last for 2 - 3 hours. Wear appropriate footwear and clothing.
August 30th, 2pm EHS staff	BALLYQUINTIN POINT NNR Changing sea-levels - understanding the geology of Ballyquintin Point	Ballyquintin Point car park. Grid ref  J625 462	Field excursions will last for 2 - 3 hours. Wear appropriate footwear and clothing.
September 6th, 2pm Paul Lyle	CARRICK-A-REDE AND LARRYBANE (2) Journey to the centre of the volcano - understanding the geology of Carrickarede	In front of Carrickarede visitors facility. Grid ref D051 447. Entrance charge for bridge.	Field excursions will last for 2 - 3 hours. Wear appropriate footwear and clothing.
September 13th, 11am EHS staff	WHITE PARK BAY AND BALLINTOY HARBOUR Rocks, seastacks and springs - understanding the geology of Ballintoy Harbour and White Park Bay	Balintoy Harbour. Grid ref  D038 453	Field excursions will last for 2 - 3 hours. Wear appropriate footwear and clothing.