Talks programme

  The following talks can be booked from:

Dr Jill Eyers, 13 Pusey Way, Lane End, Bucks, HP14 3LG

e-mail: jee8@tutor.open.ac.uk

Rate: £55

(plus travel if the location is more than 25 miles from High Wycombe)

Talks last c. 45 mins with questions to follow, although they can be tailored to any time span including hands-on workshops for many subjects.  

Equipment: all equipment can be provided if your venue does not provide the required items.

The lecturer (Dr Eyers) is a professional geologist who now works largely with archaeologists. She has projects within the UK (Bucks, Berks, Oxfordshire, Cumbria, Norfolk) as well as abroad (Brazil, Northern Spain, Turkey and the Grenadines). More recently she works with archaeologists on a number of topics and areas which include ancient landscapes such as the development of the Thames Valley, Site Director of a Mesolithic site in Bucks, and a major project on the Hambleden Roman villas in Bucks. Dr Eyers has been a lecturer for the Open University since 1986 and regularly lectures for Oxford, and other universities, as well as having an extensive talk series and a publisher of geological guides in the Rocks Afoot series.

TALKS LIST:

1.  Fossils and how to become one.

A look at the world of fossils – what they are, how they lived and died, and where you can find them today.

Specimens are used for handling and passing round the audience      (The full hands-on approach works best with less than 30 people.)

2.  Amazon adventure

The story of a trip up the Amazon in a boat, camping in the jungle and all about the ancient ecosystem of this wonderful part of the world. Slides plus some exhibits

3.  Turkish delight

The geology and archaeology of a wonderful country with an amazing history – Turkey. (A slant can be put on culture and life-style with lots of specimens such as rugs, donkey bags, ‘evil eye’, Turkish delight to eat, etc. Alternatively it can be more historical/archaeological or a geological/landscape focus.)  Slides  (+/- specimens)

4.  The Lycians

The Lycians were an ancient race of seafaring people (pirates) that settled in Lycia in Turkey. A fascinating history of these people – how they lived and how they were eventually wiped out. Slides, OHP

5 .  Geology of………. (your village)

The geology of any local area in England can be requested.

Slides, OHP and specimens (rocks and fossils) with geological maps

Small groups (up to 25) are best to enable handling of local rocks and fossils and also a close look at the information in the geological maps. But larger audiences can be accommodated as a slide presentation.

6.  The Ice Age

A look at the last Ice Age and the different environments this created across the UK. Closes with a question posed – “so what is coming next – global warming or a return of the ice age?” Students can then discuss using the evidence presented in the talk and their own knowledge. Slides

7.  Geology of NE Brazil – the story of the birth of the Atlantic

This goes through the stages of the Atlantic opening and separating Africa from South America. Looking at the geological and fossil evidence. The fossil evidence is simply a selection of the best fossils in the world!

Slides plus gorgeous fossils

8.  Rocks and landscapes

How rocks create landscape. Examples from across the UK.           Slides

9.  Volcanoes

The what, where and why of volcanoes with some spectacular slides.

Slides and rock specimens

10.  The Romans in Bucks

Who were the Romans? When and why did they invade Britain? What did they do here and how do we know?

Slides and OHP and real Roman artefacts

11.  The Stone age

Who were the ‘stone age’ people and where did they live? A look at their lifestyles through their tools.

OHP plus specimens (this is a hands-on session and hence works best with smaller groups of up to 20 or so). Larger audiences can be accommodated by digital projection.

12.  Tenerife explained

A slide tour around the island of Tenerife. The what, why and wherefore of everything you see on the island.

Digital presentation

13.  Archaeology - all stones and bones?

This is a fascinating talk. We start with the 'why do archaeologists want to study the past?' and then follow on with the 'how they do it'. Lots of local examples of sites and artefacts.

Digital projection (large groups)

(hands-on activities can be added for small groups if a longer session is required)

14.  The world of rocks and minerals

What is a rock and what is a mineral? How do they form and what do they tell us about past environments? This presentation may answer some of those questions you have had for a long time! Lots of rocks and minerals to handle.

Slides, OHP specimens

15.  The Stone Age - the Neanderthals to us

The lifestyles of Stone Age people. The talk focusses on the Dordogne region of France from the Neanderthals to the Cro-Magnons and then on to England and to us. Tools, art, and simply how to stay alive in a sometimes hostile world will be discussed.

Digital projection and artefacts

16.  Rock art

Why did people first start using rocks in art? Why did they paint deep inside caves and how did they do it? Who and where are also covered with a focus on the cave paintings of the Dordogne area in France.

Digital projection

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