Completion of second phase of Geology schools programme

May 2010

Recently the second phase of an outreach programme coordinated by Dr Patrick Wyse Jackson of the Department of Geology has been completed.  This scheme under the umbrella group Geoschol was funded by the Griffith Awards of the Geological Survey of Ireland and involved a consortium of the Geological Museum in TCD, the National Museum of Ireland and the Ulster Museum.

Over 4,000 primary schools in Ireland, north and south have received an Activity Booklet containing geological exercises and games, as well as four large posters for display in the classroom.  In addition a website (www.geoschol.com) has been set up where these resources may be freely downloaded.

Three of the posters describe the structure of the Earth, outline the use of different rocks and minerals, and illustrate some buildings stones of Ireland.  The fourth provides a geological history of Ireland and is designed as a measuring chart so that school children can travel through geological time as they grow.  The posters were designed by Dr Adam Stuart Smith who was employed as a Research Associate on the project.  Leaflets describing the geology of each county in Ireland are available from the website and a book The Geology of Ireland: County by County has been distributed to county libraries and museums across the country.

Geology of Ireland county by county

Structure of the Earth, the different rocks and fossils.