For the last 40 years, world-renowned geologist Brian Jones, professor emeritus of geology at the University of Alberta, Canada, has been conducting research, mapping and sampling sediment cores in and around the Cayman Islands. These days, he’s searching for more students interested in the field of geology.
Speaking at a public lecture at the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands last week, Jones noted that geology is not in most curricula in schools, which, he said, “is a problem, and when, if you decide to go into it, then you’ve got a tough road to run”.
Jones explained there is very little interest in the field, which is why “we do Geology Week”.
One of the things that drew him to geology was his love for fossils, he explained.
“It was great when we were out in the fields, they [students] loved collecting fossils, and that’s how so many geologists get started. That’s what attracted me to it,” he said.
He recalled his days in high school when his geography teacher told him, “‘You gotta know about geology as well.’ The best thing he did for me.”
“Hopefully, when we go around and I can lecture to school children, we take some out in the field, I can talk to them on a casual basis in the field. And I just hope that, somewhere in there, I can trigger somebody’s interest and get them involved. A lot of people are frightened of geology, but for me it’s made a great career,” he said.
He added, “For some of the students we have today, you could see the enjoyment they got out of finding fossils.”
During the 12 Oct. lecture, which was titled ‘Geology and Water: Cayman Islands’, attendees also got their hands on a copy of his book ‘Geology of the Cayman Islands’, a comprehensive review of his decades of research.
Geology Education Week, facilitated by the Water Authority, was held 9-19 Oct. and featured geology lessons for students at local high schools and a professional development course for local educators. It included a field trip to popular geological sites in Grand Cayman.
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