14th, 21st and 28th February
10.30 - 15.30 in the museum
Free drop in event for families
Join the Time Truck volunteers to find out more about the rocks, minerals and fossils in our collection.
Saturday 14th March
10.30-15.30 Free drop in family event
Travel in time with Time Truck! Investigate rocks and minerals, discover dinosaurs and explore earth science with hands on activities and demonstrations.
All the lectures start at 19.00 and are in the Department of Earth Sciences, Tilley Lecture Theatre, Downing Street, CB2 3EQ. Booking required please call 01223 766766
Monday 16th March. Shining light through rocks: magma down the microscope
Professor Marian Holness
What makes volcanoes erupt? What controls how explosive and dangerous those eruptions are? Professor Marion Holness investigates these questions and explores the physical properties of molten rock (or magma). She shoes how microscopes using polarised light allow geologists to determine the composition of the rock and help us understand the behaviour of volcanoes.
Tuesday 17th March. Giant tsunamis of the Mediterranean
Professor James Jackson
The ancient Mediterranean world experienced several catastrophic tsunamis, the most famous destroying Alexandria and the Nile delta in AD 365 and 1303. Using clues left on islands and beaches, Professor James Jackson investigates the possible causes and impacts of ancient tsunamis. This detective work could help us understand the implications of these events on the modern world.
Wednesday 18th March. Light in rocks: in paintings
Dr Spike Bucklow
We usually think of rock as definitively solid and impenetrable to light. But light does penetrate rock. In fact, if it didn't, rocks would all look rather boring. Dr Spike Bucklow discusses the wide range of colours offered by rocks that were used by historic artists as ingredients in the creation of great paintings.
Saturday 21st March
10.30-15.00, free drop in family event ages 8+
Entry through the Museum
Come and explore our Lab located in the University of Cambridge Earth Sciences Department. Get hands on with unusual rocks and see Thin Section analysis in action. Learn about how light interacts with rocks and the geological world and see how it can affect the Sedgwick Museum’s famous collections. The more adventurous young students could try colouring in their own thin section to keep.
Find out what else is happening across the Univeristy of Cambridge Museums Cambridge Science Festival 2015
Monday to Friday
10:00 to 13:00 & 14:00 to 17:00
10:00 to 16:00