Thought-Provoking RV Jones Lecture

March 7th 2025

Last night, the Great Hall at Alleyn’s played host to an inspiring and thought-provoking RV Jones Science Lecture, delivered by renowned geologist Professor Chris Jackson. His talk, "The Geological Record of Climate Change: What Do the Rocks and Fossils Tell Us?", took the audience on a journey through Earth’s climate history—highlighting the patterns, causes, and consequences of climate change over millions of years.

Opening with a stark reminder of the record-breaking temperatures we are currently experiencing, Professor Jackson set the stage for a compelling discussion. He explored how natural climate shifts have occurred over geological time, evidenced by tree rings, ice cores, and even fossils dating back 1.8 million years—though, as he humorously noted, that’s still not quite old enough for a geologist!

In a clever and engaging analogy, he walked the audience through Earth’s climate history in 50-million-year steps, imagining a 100-meter journey around the Royal Institution to illustrate how climate has changed and life has continuously adapted. From palm fruits in London’s clay to conifers in Antarctica, the geological record reveals a world that has undergone dramatic transformations.

However, Professor Jackson emphasised a crucial distinction: while climate change has natural drivers, today’s anthropogenic (human-driven) impact is occurring at an unprecedented rate. He underscored the link between temperature shifts and extinction events, urging the audience to consider the long-term consequences of our current trajectory.

With a blend of scientific expertise, engaging storytelling, Professor Chris Jackson’s lecture was both enlightening and essential.

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