LOUGS Home

The Open University Geological Society
(London Branch)

AGM and Branch Dinner - Sat 4 February 2012

Click here for the calendar, and to register for lectures, field trips, and more

London Branch Open University Geological Society

If you are interested in any aspect of geology or earth sciences then The Open University Geological Society (OUGS) is the place to be. You don't have to be an Open University student or graduate to join, just an interest in geology. For full details, see the main OUGS site.

When you join the OUGS, you elect to be affiliated to a branch. London Branch serves members in Greater London, Middlesex, Surrey, West Sussex.

On this site you will find the information on the activities and events organised by this Branch. Don't forget that any member can attend any branch's events. Here's what you can find on this site:

	Events - field trips, geowalks, lectures and social events, you will find all the details here.
	Branch Information - curious to see what the committee members look like? Want to borrow a geological map or book? Then follow this link.
	Photo Gallery - if you want to see what it is like to go on a London Branch field trip, then look here. More photographs wanted.
	London Platform - read the latest issue, and study the archives, of the London Platform online.
	Wee Beasties - information about the Fossil Insects which can be found in the South East of England.
	Open University Geological Society Sales
	Links - links to other interesting geological web sites.

Consultation: Threat to fossil collecting at Bracklesham Bay, West Sussex

Bracklesham is a well known foreshore locality for Palaeogene fossils and a popular venue for family fossil hunting as well as group visits (including the LOUGS day trip on 3 June 2012).

This summer, Chichester District Council, without consultation, zoned part of the foreshore (to the east of Bracklesham Bay) for the exclusive use of kite surfers—the designated zone being right in the middle of the fossil collecting area, where material washes in from offshore erosion of submerged fossil beds.

There is a consultation underway as to whether this part of the foreshore should become a permanent kite surfing zone. You can make your views on this proposal known by completing the online survey (and/or writing to the Council) so that decades, if not centuries, of fossil hunting can continue (a suitable alternative kite surfing zone would be to the west of Bracklesham Bay). The consultation closes on 9 December 2011.

http://www.chichester.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=18675

OU Funding Petition

There's an e-Petition to the government about cuts to OU funding, set up by the OU branch of the University & College Union. It needs 100,000 signatures to trigger a parliamentary debate. Please consider signing, and spread the word:
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/22316

OpenLearn

A useful resource provided by the Open University is OpenLearn giving everyone free access to OU learning materials. The project, launched in 2006, contains more than 8000 study hours of learning materials across all disciplines.

From LearningSpace, there is a topic index. The "Science" component contains chapters or sections of current OU science courses (level 1 to postgraduate) as well as some of the discontinued courses (for example S182 Studying Mammals and S278 Energy Resources).

If you register on OpenLearn (also at no cost) you can participate in associated online activities and forums and keep track of the courses you have looked at, alternatively, you can just (anonymously) browse through the content.

Additional free resources can be found on the Open University channels on YouTube and iTunesU.

The OU is also part of the OpenCourseWare Consortium where you can access course materials from contributing universities across the globe.

Join Our Mailing List

On occasions, we need to let people know about changes to the programme of events or give them other information as quickly as possible. We have set-up a London Branch email list of people who would like to receive up to the minute news of London branch activities - including electronic (PDF) copies of the London Branch newsletter (paper copies will continue to be sent out to all branch members whether on the email list or not). If you would like to be included in this list, please send me an email at gavin@lougs.org.uk. You do not have to be a London Branch member to be on the list and you can leave the list at any time. The list will only be used for the purpose of informing you about London Branch and geological items of interest. Of course, this information will still be posted on this website and the event organiser will attempt to contact people who have registered for an event should changes occur.

Open University Geological Society

The idea for a geological society in the Open University was hatched during the first Summer School of the first geology course in 1972. It was actively supported and encouraged by the then head of department, Professor Ian Gass. Since that time we have been pleased to be able to count on the department's support in both our field and non-field activities. Some teaching members of the department started out as OU students. But this does not mean that we are an extension of the academic work of the department. We are an independent organisation whose members have mainly come to enjoy geology through the teaching of the department. But it should not be thought that the knowledge all flows one-way, many members of the society have been able in their own ways to contribute to the work of the OU. It is this cross fertilisation that benefits everyone involved.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the society, then full information can be found on the OUGS website.

Fossil Insects

The "Wee Beasties" have come to the London Branch Website. Dr Ed Jarzembowski of the Maidstone Museum & Bentlif Art Gallery, is well known for his work on fossil insects and in his talk at the 2002 Symposium of the OUGS he challenged members to get out there and help find them. We are proud to host information about these fascinating fossils and how to find them - just follow the Wee Beasties link.