Report by Kate Torrens
On Saturday 11th October, WGCG volunteers Lauren, Anthony, Gareth, Kate and Pete spent the day at the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in Coventry, running an Ask a Geologist outreach event that welcomed a steady flow of visitors to our table under the tail of Dippy the Dinosaur. People came from near and far, many drawn by the chance to see Dippy, and we had the pleasure of meeting families, students, and enthusiasts of all ages.
During our stay, I encouraged younger visitors to explore the different textures and weights of rocks such as granite and tufa. One child was particularly amused by the gryphaea fossil, more commonly known as “Devil’s Toenail,” and suggested it should be called “Elephant’s Trunk” instead! Moments like this showed the fresh perspectives that children can bring (and hopefully we inspired some budding geologists!).
Throughout the visit, Gareth demonstrated digital magnification to reveal the fine details hidden in specimens such as tiny shells in shelly limestone and close up views of ammonites, which fascinated many. Pete stayed with us for the whole day, talking about the incredible age of the specimens and reassuring visitors that they could handle them without worry because, after all, these rocks and fossils had already survived for millions of years! Anthony helped identify the names and origins of unusual specimens, while Lauren popped in to lend her support during the day and on social media, while I went on a lunch run.
Plenty of visitors enjoyed prising a magnet off the magnetite and seeing how it affected a compass whilst listening to Gareth’s tales of Viking sea navigation. Quite a few guessed a specimen they were handling was Fool’s Gold, which was another opportunity for education from our volunteers.
Another highlight came when a group of design students from Coventry University admired the natural shapes and patterns in the specimens, drawing links with the Fibonacci sequence visible in some of our shells, and other concepts from their studies. One student was especially complimentary of Gareth’s dinosaur t-shirt, which kept him grinning throughout the day.
Many visitors picked up flyers with local geological information, saying they would look out for hidden wonders on their own wanders. Others signed up to hear more about future events and field trips. We were also pleased to meet members of CV Life, one of whom expressed enthusiasm about WGCG visiting local homes to bring natural history into the heart of the community.
The museum was very happy with the success of the day and invited us to return for future events. The whole team enjoyed the chance to share knowledge, spark curiosity, and connect with people from such a wide range of backgrounds under the majesty of Dippy.
A huge thank you goes to Gareth for his hard work in organising and running the event, and for giving me the opportunity to take part in such a rewarding and inspiring day.
