HOGG Events

The History of Geology Group

Watercolour sketch of a Geological Society meeting in progress at Somerset House, probably by Henry Thomas De La Beche, c.1830. The sketch is drawn as if from behind the Presidential chair. Several geologists can be identified: seated farthest away and wearing spectacles is Henry De la Beche, next to him is Roderick Impey Murchison with John Phillips. Across the table are George Bellas Greenough, William Fitton, Charles Lyell and William Buckland. Image courtesy of the Geological Society of London

HOGG organises an active programme of online talks, field meetings, seminars, conferences and other occasional events.

Our programme addresses a wide range of topics of interest to historians, historians of science and geologists and any many others, whatever their level and expertise of knowledge.

HOGG Members are eligible for free admission to all online events.

Other events e.g. conferences and field meetings, normally incur a fee, but we endeavour to keep fees as low and affordable as possible and HOGG members enjoy these ar cost. These fees normally include an abstracts booklet or field guide, refreshments/lunch at conferences/seminars etc and occasionally, charges made by museums or landowners for admission to field location

Non-members and guests are also welcome to attend our online meetings and other events for a small fee that covers our costs.

Upcoming meetings are listed below.

Online talks are normally held in the 3rd week of the month, on a Wednesday, Thursday or Tuesday, between 13.00–14.00 hrs (UK time).

Outline content and registration for upcoming meetings can be found on the HOGG events page via our Ticket Tailor web page (external webpage). Click here to visit.

Information on past meetings can be found here.

2026 Programme

January 21 (Wednesday) Online talk : Unearthing the letters of William Smith: full transcriptions reveal so much more,

with Philippa Towler and Dr Kevin Privett.

February 19 (Thursday) Online talk: The Miners’ Stratigraphy and the 18th century roots of stratigraphic geology,

with Dr. Ru Smith.

March (Wednesday) Online talk: : Andrija Mohorovičić: Croatian seismologist and the Crust–Mantle boundary discovery, with Dr. John Milsom.

April 23 (Thursday) Online talk : The real Glacier Controversy: the history of attempts to explain how glaciers flow, with Professor Brian Whalley.

May 20 (Wednesday) Online talk: Andrew Crombie Ramsay and his Geological Lectures to Working Men: no compromise, with Anne Barrett.

June 29 (Monday) – July 4 (Saturday) Field Meeting. Auvergne, France. Volcanoes of central France: evidence of early ideas about igneous activity, erosion and theories of the Earth, with Professors David Pyle (University of Oxford) & Ben van Wyk de Vries (Université Clermont Auvergne). Details and arrangements tbc.

August 20 (Thursday ) HOGG Wikipedia Workshop 2026

September 20 – 23 (exact days/dates tbc). Field Meeting: Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland. Tercentenary of James Hutton Field meeting: Journey to the South Alpine parts of Scotland in the year 1786: locations in search of proofs for ‘Theory of the Earth’, with Duncan Hawley.