How you can support one of the world's great geology museums ...
The Friends exists to support and encourage the development of the museum, and promote and publicise the collection to a wider audience.
Membership of the Friends is open to all. Our members benefit from:
- Talks on topics relevant to the museum and its collections.
- Tours behind the scenes at the museum and the conservation unit to see parts of the collections not normally accessible to the public.
- Guided visits to places of geological interest.
- Social events including a garden party and an annual dinner with a reception in the Museum.
- Newsletters to keep members informed about events and activities.
- Exclusive previews of new exhibitions.
- Opportunities to become a volunteer and be involved in the work of the Museum.
>> How to Join
>> Download the latest edition of Trilobite, the Friends' newsletter
EVENTS AND LECTURES 2012
Unless otherwise stated, events will be held in the Department of Earth Sciences
(entry below the Sedgwick Museum). Parking is available on the Downing
Site during these events, with access from Tennis Court Road. At events
held in the Department, tea, coffee and biscuits will be available from 6:15pm,
and the event will start at 7pm. At most events we will invite donations of
£2/head for members and £3/head for non-members towards expenses and
the support of the Museum.
Contacting the Friends
Some of the events listed require pre-booking or pre-payment. Talks do not normally require this, unless you are thinking of bringing a group. Visits often do require pre-booking so that numbers and logistics can be sorted out. Pre-payment should be made by cheque made out to the "Friends of the Sedgwick Museum", and sent to the "Friends of the Sedgwick Museum", Department of Earth Sciences, Downing St., Cambridge CB2 3EQ.
Pre-booking and other communications should be emailed to swri07@cam.ac.uk and copied to pff1000@cam.ac.uk, or phoned to 01223 333400. The Friends now have a mobile phone on 07754 592439 which will be switched on for 90 minutes before the start of each event, and kept on for 2 hours.
January - March 2012
Experimental Geology Practical Session "Simulating the building and erosion of mountains, the changing height of the Earth's crust and sea-level.
Tuesday 31 January, 6.15 for 7.00pm
Dr Mike Tuke has kindly agreed to present another of his popular classes. The numbers must be limited to twenty. Please telephone Mike on 01480-457068 by 24 February
Talk on "Polar bears, politics and petroleum: conflicting issues in Arctic hydrocarbon exploration"
Tuesday, 28 February 2012, 6.15 for 7.00 pm start.
Dr Robert Scott, CASP, Cambridge
Adam Sedgwick Anniversary Dinner
Wednesday, 21 March 2012, Old Hall, Queens' College, 7 for 7.30 pm.
Speaker Dr Ken McNamara, the new Sedgwick Museum Director
Our annual Dinner has always been a very enjoyable way of making new friends and renewing old friendships in a College setting. This year we have booked the remarkably colourful Old Hall at Queens, and have moved to a mid-week date, in order to keep the prices down. The prices this year will be £35 (with soft-drinks), and £42 (with wine). Please send provisional booking to
Janet Herdman or Friends, Department of Earth Sciences, Downing St., Cambridge, CB2 3EQ).
The next Newsletter (No 24) will include details for booking and how to pay.
April - June 2012
Further details of the following Visits and booking requirements will be included in the next Newsletter.
Visit to North-east Norfolk Coast.
Date not yet agreed but possibilities are Saturday 21st or 28th April or 5th May, 2012.
Our leader, Professor P.L. Gibbard, suggests a bus from Cambridge and fish and chips lunch on coast.
Cromer area, West Runton, Overstrand etc. classic ground for understanding the early Ice Age history of East Anglia.
Visit to Marston Vale, Bedford.
Saturday 19 May 2012
Martin Whiteley, Tim Fairwell and Peter Friend have been exploring the landscape history of this remarkable feature, using topographic maps specially created at the University of Cranwell.
Weekend Visit to the Scottish East-Coast Borderland
Friday - Sunday 15-17 June, 2012
Programme will include visiting the famous Siccar Point Unconformity, providing classic evidence of the evolution of this part of the Caledonian mountain chain, vividly recorded in structures, sediments and volcanic remnants, as well as remarkable evidence of recent glaciation. Arrangements are currently being worked out and registrations of interest will be requested soon.
AGM with talks
Tuesday, 12th June 2012, 6 - 7.30 pm. in Department of Earth Sciences.
Local members are particularly asked to attend and help to discuss future activities.
Field trips
The Friends visit Cwm Idwal in North Wales (Summer 2003), retracing the steps of Sedgwick's field trip with Darwin in 1831.
