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The science of the Jurassic Coast: Dorset and Devon, England

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17 - 19 May 2024 - 3 days from £899

Discover the science of the Jurassic coast, from the ever-changing coastal landscapes to the historic beaches and geology with insights from a variety of geology, palaeontology and palaeozoology experts. 

On this Weekender, you will have an opportunity to explore the Jurassic Coast, where geology takes centre stage. It is the only place on Earth where rocks from the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods can be seen in one place, representing 185 million years of Earth’s history. Within these rocks are countless stories of continents colliding, landscapes being formed and shaped by time and tide, and extraordinary creatures living, dying and evolving across millions of years.

Enjoy insighful talks from Lewis Dartnell who will take you through the millennia of human history and billions of years into our planet’s past. Darren Naish will talk about the history of palaeoart and vertebrate evolutionary history in general. As well as Geologist Dr. Richard Scrivener, who was the Principal Geologist of the British Geological Survey, he will join us during the cruise along the coast on day 3. We will also have a talk from Doctor Steve Etches MBE who was recently in the news, as he led the team who uncovered the most complete Jurassic pliosaur ever found, as reported by New Scientist below:

You will stay with a friendly group of fellow science enthusiasts at a centrally-located hotel in the heart of Exeter. During your stay, you will hear from leading geology, conservation and palaeozoology experts as you take a deep dive through the history of the Jurassic Coast. 

This Weekender is for anyone with an interest in geology, and for those wanting to learn more about the history of one of England's most beautiful and historic coastal regions. 

DAY 1: ARRIVE IN EXETER AND INTRODUCTION TO THE WEEKENDER

You will check into your room at the Courtyard by Mercure Exeter Southgate hotel located in the heart of Exeter. You will be welcomed by the New Scientist team, who will introduce you to the weekend ahead. 

The evening will begin with drinks, followed by the first of this weekend's talks, with time at the end to ask any questions. 

Talk - Origins: How the Earth shaped human history

  • When we reach the point where history becomes prehistory, we see a vast web of connections that underwrites our modern world and helps us face the challenges of the future.
  • When we talk about human history, we focus on great leaders, revolutions and technological advances. But how has the Earth itself determined our destiny? How has our planet made us?
  • The human story is the story of these forces, from plate tectonics and climate change to atmospheric circulation and ocean currents.

After this, there will be dinner and the opportunity to meet your fellow guests and the team from New Scientist.

DAY 2: VISIT LYME REGIS AND AFTERNOON OF TALKS

After an early breakfast, you will depart and travel to the Lyme Regis by coach to begin your guided walk towards East beach and Black Ven. Learn all about the remarkable fossil hunter Mary Anning and the geology of the Jurassic Coast. You can be expected to walk up to 3 kilometres during this excursion. This will be at a very steady pace as a lot of the time will be spent learning about the geology of this magnificent coastline! We strongly recommend that you wear sturdy waterproof walking shoes during this visit as their may be the option to walk on the beach if the tides allow. The terrain will be very uneven and may be slippery, as well as a windproof and waterproof jacket as the weather can be changable.

You will be joined by palaeontologist and science communicator, Kieran Satchell, who will take you on a walking seminar from the Mary Anning Museum along the coastline path. Learn all about the amazing Mary Anning and her ground breaking discoveries and the key role these played. Discover how fossils form and why we find so many in the rocks and clay around Lyme Regis.

Afterwards, head to the Lyme Regis Museum, where you will discover 200 million years of history through the remarkable discoveries of Mary Anning. The museum is built on the site of Mary Anning’s home. Enjoy a private tour of the museum, including a private talk from one of the its curators.  

Afterwards, you will have time for lunch (not included) and to explore Lyme Regis independently.

Return to the hotel by coach in the late afternoon.

Before dinner, there will be a talk from Darren Naish focusing on the life, appearance, behaviour and evolution of extinct animals, mainly dinosaurs, pterosaurs and marine reptiles as well as the history of palaeoart and vertebrate evolutionary history in general.

You will then be joined by Steve Etches who will offer an insightful talk into The Etches Collection. 

You can continue the conversation over drinks with our speakers before dinner. 

Please note todays activity will be subject to change due to tide times.

DAY 3: MORNING OF TALKS AND AFTERNOON GEOLOGY CRUISE

After a more leisurely breakfast, you will have some free time to explore Exeter.

This morning there will be two more talks from a variety of geology experts. 

After lunch, you will be transferred by coach to Exmouth marina to board your boat for your geology cruise along the Jurassic Coast, allowing a different viewpoint from the previous day’s exploration. After embarking in Exmouth harbour, known as the gateway to the Jurassic Coast, you will be introduced to geologist Dr. Richard Scrivener, who has been an independent consultant geologist for over 12 years and previously was the Principal Geologist of the British Geological Survey, specialising in minerals, mining and geochemistry. Dr. Scivener will offer a full commentary throughout the cruise going into fantastic detail on all the rock formations and the complex heritage landscape as you sail along one of the most breathtaking parts of the British coastline. 

You will return to the hotel after the cruise where the tour will end. 

Contact us to discuss this Weekender.

Email us to discuss

Contact us to discuss this Weekender.

Email us to discuss

Highlights

  • Hosted throughout by science writer, Michael Marshall.
  • Hear from leading experts in geology and palaeontology including Lewis Dartnell and Darren Naish.
  • Enjoy a talk from Doctor Steve Etches MBE who led the team that uncovered the most complete Jurassic pliosaur ever found. Which, became the subject of a new David Attenborough documentary teaching us more about these deadly predators.
  • Explore the Jurassic Coast by sea on a cruise with a local geology expert. Sail along one of the most breath-taking parts of the British Coastline.
  • Take a private tour of the Lyme Regis Museum, former home of fossil hunter Mary Anning. Learn about how some of her discoveries were the most significant geological finds of all time.
  • Coastal path walk towards Lyme Regis’s famed East Beach and Black Ven. Revealing a 199 million-year-old ecosystem where various species would have called home.
  • Dinner and drinks with tour experts, New Scientist team and guests.

Meet the expert

New Scientist Default Image

Michael Marshall (Host)

Michael Marshall is a freelance science writer based in Devon, UK. His work mostly focuses on life sciences, health and the environment. Michael's writing has been featured in New Scientist, BBC Future, the Guardian, Nature and other publications. He writes Our Human Story, a monthly email newsletter for New Scientist about archaeology and human evolution. His first book The Genesis Quest is about the origins of life on Earth and is available now.

Lewis Dartnell portrait image

Professor Lewis Dartnell is a research scientist, presenter and author based in London. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a first-class degree in biological sciences and completed his PhD at University College London in 2007. His books include The Knowledge, Origins and, most recently, Being Human: How our biology shaped world history.

Headshot of Darren Naish, Scientific Consultant

Darren Naish is an author and palaeozoologist who works on dinosaurs, ancient sea reptiles and flying pterosaurs. He received his PhD in palaeontology from the University of Portsmouth in 2006. He has published numerous books, mostly recently Ancient Sea Reptiles and Mesozoic Art (with Steve White), and he blogs at Tetrapod Zoology (tetzoo.com), where he writes about all manner of zoological topics. He also works for the BBC Natural History Unit and is chief scientific consultant for the Apple TV+ series Prehistoric Planet.

Image of Dr Steve Etches at his gallery in Dorset

Doctor Steve Etches MBE was originally a plumber by trade and began collecting fossils from the Kimmeridge Clay over 40 years ago. His fossil collecting began at the age of 5 with a flint fossil sea urchin which he found in his back garden. Completely self taught, what began as a hobby has now resulted in a collection of over 2800 fossils (and increasing as Steve is still busy collecting) all from the Kimmeridge Bay locality, which were all once housed in a converted garage at his home in the village and are now on display at here in our amazing museum, The Etches Collection Museum of Jurassic Marine Life in Kimmeridge just a short distance from where all the amazing discoveries were made. Steve has become a renown expert on fossils from the Kimmeridgian, it has always been his wish to donate his collection to the nation so that generations can learn from the amazing specimens and their ‘Stories from Deep Time.’ Steve, often described as a ‘modern day Mary Anning’, has received numerous awards in recognition for his dedication to the world of Palaeontology.

New Scientist Default Image

Doctor Richard Scrivener has been an independent consultant geologist for over 12 years and previously was the Principal Geologist of the British Geological Survey, specialising in minerals, mining and geochemistry. Doctor Scrivener will join the group on the geology coastal cruise to offer insight as you explore the Jurassic coast by sea.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

  • A full programme of talks and visits.
  • Two nights’ accommodation, based on 2 people sharing a room.
  • Two breakfasts, one lunch and two three-course dinners. (Please advise in advance if you have dietary requirements and we will confirm if we cater for them).
  • A full instruction pack sent two weeks before the event.
  • Return transport from Exeter to Lyme Regis in a coach on day 2.
  • Return transport from Exeter to Exmouth Harbour in a coach on day 3.
  • 24-hour onsite support.
  • Onsite parking.

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

  • Travel insurance.
  • Transport to venue.
  • Lunch on day two.
  • Additional snacks, drinks or alcohol.
  • Additional nights' accommodation.
  • Single room supplement - £145.

HOW TO GET THERE

This weekender begins and ends at the Mercure Southgate Hotel, Exeter, EX1 1QF.

Arriving by car: Via the M5, exit at Junction 29 and take the A3015 towards Exeter City Centre. Continue into the city for 2.5 miles (4 km), through 2 roundabouts and right at 2 fork junctions. You then come down a hill (Heavitree Police Station on the right, Pyramids Pool on the left) and arrive at a large roundabout. Take the 1st exit off the roundabout onto Western Way (Plymouth via the A38). Turn right at the 1st lights onto Barnfield Rd then 1st left onto Southernhay East. The hotel is down the hill on the right. Parking is included.

Arriving by train: There are three train stations in Exeter. Exeter Central is located an approximate a 10 minute walk from the hotel. Exeter St Thomas is located an approximate 12 minute walk from the hotel. Exeter St Davids is located an approximate 20 minute walk from the hotel.

Arriving from outside of the UK: The nearest airport to Exeter is Exeter International Airport (EXT).

PACE AND PHYSICALITY

This is a low-medium impact event. The talks will be held in a private conference room with comfortable seating. The main walking element will take place on day 2 when you visit Lyme Regis beach. This morning you can be expected to walk up to 3 kilometres during this morning excursion. This will be at a very steady pace. We strongly recommend that you wear sturdy walking shoes during this day as the terrain will be very uneven and may be slippery.

On the afternoon of day 3, you will embark on a cruise along the Jurassic Coast. During the cruise, the boat can be affected by the winds. If you are prone to sea sickness, we suggest you bring some suitable medication with you for this.

We will provide transport in comfortable coaches for the excursions on days 2 and 3.

WEATHER

Although the climate is temperate in May, we strongly advise that you bring weatherproof clothing as the weather can change and we will be outside for the walk on day 2.

SOLO TRAVELLERS

Our group tours are perfect for solo travellers, as travelling as part of an organised group provides security and peace of mind in faraway places.  If you want your own room, you will need to pay a solo supplement of £145 for this weekender. If you are willing to share, we will always do our best to match you up with another solo traveller of the same sex so that you don't have to pay for a single room.

AGE RESTRICTIONS

Children are welcome, but must be aged 12 or over. Please bear in mind that the level of the talks and activities are aimed at adults.

Accommodation

Mercure Exeter Southgate, Devon, England

Mecure Southgate hotel exterior

A contemporary 4-star hotel located in the heart of Exeter. The hotel is a a short walk from Exeter's wonderful cathedral and its main shopping precincts. Each of the rooms are tastefully decorated and offer en-suite bathrooms. Facilities include a spa with heated pool, sauna and fitness room.

Mecure Southgate hotel standard room

Mecure Southgate hotel pool