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Yorkshire Geological Society, founded 1837

The Society and the geology of Yorkshire and the North of England

Few regions of the world of its size have contributed as much to the geological sciences as Northern England. Here the combination of classic geology and an active scientific community has promoted vigorous geological enquiry and debate for two centuries and continue to do so today. Foremost among the region's scientific societies is the Yorkshire Geological Society which, since its formation as the Geological and Polytechnic Society of the West Riding of Yorkshire in 1837, has been, and continues to be, an internationally recognised scientific organisation with an interest in all aspects of geology, principally in Northern England and adjacent areas. Whilst its findings are mainly of national and interest, many have had major repercussions across the geological sciences globally. The Society is increasingly involved in relevant areas of environmental conservation: it is regularly consulted by local planning authorities, and there is a mutual cross-affiliation with the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

History

The Society is the fourth oldest geological society in the United Kingdom, following the Geological Society of London (1807), the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall (1813) and the Edinburgh Geological Society (1834). Reflecting the interests of many of its coal-owner and engineer original members the Society and its Proceedings first published in 1839, the Society originally covered mining and general engineering and technology, and then archaeology also. However, from the earliest days its membership was much wider than just the West Riding, and the Society very quickly gained the active support the leading national geological figures of the day as Honorary Members. With the establishment of the Yorkshire Archaeological and Topographical Society in 1863, the Society gradually ceded its archaeological activities and publishing to the new Society, and 1903 it adopted the present name of Yorkshire Geological Society for both the society and its Proceedings.

From the late 19th century onwards the Society developed ever-closer links with the emerging earth science departments in the university colleges and universities of Yorkshire and adjacent counties and with the Geological Survey, particularly at its former Leeds and Newcastle offices, and these close links remain today with the British Geological Survey's headquarters at Keyworth, Nottinghamshire. The Society has also developed close relationships with many "Corresponding Societies" and groups of the region - mainly local geological societies which between then cover most of northern England and parts of central England, from Cumbria and Northumberland in the north to Leicestershire in the south. The Society's 170 year old geological library is housed in the Leeds University Library.

Membership

The society has a large membership. No qualifications are required for membership and there is no entry fee. Members have a very great range of training, interests, expertise and age and come from the whole spectrum of society. Though the membership includes leading academic and professional earth scientists and institutions interested in the region, including many overseas members, the Society welcomes and values equally everyone with an interest in the field, or who wish to learn about it, including active amateur geologists and mineralogists, teachers, students and anyone else who wants to find out more about the geological history and conservation of the Society's region. The members annually elect the Officers and Council who also serve as Trustees of the Society as a Registered Charity, and who run the Society between annual general meetings.

Programme of activities

The Society organises a regular programme of winter meetings at different venues across Northern England, usually on Saturdays, at roughly monthly intervals from October to March. These open to members and the general public alike and are used to disseminate the findings of recent research or to review important subjects of current interest. The Society has a varied summer field meeting programme ranges from excursions designed specifically for beginners to those demonstrating the findings of the latest scientific research in our area. From time to time the Society also convenes conferences on a topic of relevance to Northern England, usually in conjunction with one or more of the universities of trhe region or the corresponding societies.

Publications:

The Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological Society is a twice-yearly refereed scientific journal which communicates the findings of a wide range of geological research of either general geological interest or (especially) relating to the North of England region. Since 2011 the digitised Proceedings from 1839 to date have been made available through the Geological Society of London's on-line Lyell Collection. The Society's illustrated Circular is issued seven times a year and gives full details of the Society's programme of meetings, public lectures and field excursions, as well as the annual Yorkshire Geology Month programme run every May in cooperation with the Corresponding Societies and other local groups. The Society also publishes books and booklets on relevant topics from time to time, including the popular Yorkshire Rocks and Landscapes and Northumbrian Rocks and Landscapes