A programme of events took place at the weekend to celebrate the centenary of Geography and Geology, as well as 50 years of Geophysics at Liverpool.
The celebrations culminated with a glittering gala dinner at St George’s Hall attended by over 200 current and former staff, alumni and guests. One of the guests of honour at the dinner was Carolyn Browning, née Maude-Roxby, who as well as being a Geography alumna was also the great niece of the first John Rankin Professor of Geography.
Ahead of the weekend many alumni had submitted photographs, past exam papers and their own memories of their time at Liverpool and this formed a display of memorabilia which visitors to the University’s Open Day, which also took place on Saturday, were able to view and enjoy.
The weekend celebrations commemorated the appointment of Percy Maude Roxby as the first John Rankin Professor of Geography in 1917 and Percy George Hamnal Boswell appointed to the Herdman Chair of Geology also in 1917. These new Chairs subsequently led to the establishment of both academic departments in the September 1917/18 academic year.
The sub-department of Geophysics was founded in 1967 directed by Rod Wilson under the joint aegis of Physics and Geology departments with a strong focus on palaeomagnetism and plate tectonics which continues to the present day.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Janet Beer said: “Here at the University of Liverpool we have a very proud history of leading the way in Geography, Geology and Geophysics – both in terms of study and research.
“All three disciplines have been leading the way in research and teaching from their very inception here at Liverpool. One hundred years on and thanks to inspired leadership, infrastructure investment and world-leading academics, we continue to be at the very forefront of educational and research provision.”
Professor Douglas Mair, Head of the School of Environmental Sciences, said: “Scholars have been drawn towards the University of Liverpool for a century to study the Earth, its places, processes and people: a different kind of geo-magnetism perhaps.
“It is our good fortune to be able to celebrate the achievements and contributions to these great academic disciplines of generations of staff and students over the last one hundred years and wonderful that so many that have been part of this success in the past and present were here to enjoy it.”
A flickr album of photographs from the centenary celebrations can be found at this webpage: https://www.flickr.com/photos/livunialumni/albums/72157687116043064
