RAS Bulletin, December 2017 • Specialist Discussion Meeting – 8th December • RAS Public Lecture: Cassini – How the Earth Works: 50 years of Plate Tectonics 12th December • Astronomically Big Data: Mapping the Galaxy and Planetary Interiors • Library update • RAS Job List • Friends of the RAS • Notes for Fellows ______________________________________ RAS Specialist Discussion Meeting - 8th December Dynamic coupling in the terrestrial atmosphere (joint with RMetSoc) 10:30–15:30 in the Royal Astronomical Society Lecture Theatre, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BQ Organisers: Tracy Moffat-Griffin (BAS) Andrew Kavanagh (BAS) Nick Mitchell (Bath) Alan Gadian (Leeds) The link between AGN and galaxy formation 10:30–15:30 in the Geological Society Lecture Theatre, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BG Organisers: Peter Thomas (Sussex) James Mullaney (Sheffield) More information can be found on our website: http://www.ras.org.uk/events-and-meetings ______________________________________ RAS Public Lecture: How the Earth Works: 50 years of Plate Tectonics by Dr Sue Bowler, A&G Editor 1967 was the year when modern geophysics began; this was the year when plate tectonics became the new paradigm for understanding our home planet. This revolutionary new way of thinking about the Earth took place because of new technology, including the advent of computers in scientific research that radically changed both the amount and quality of observations of our planet. Dan McKenzie of the University of Cambridge was one of a handful of researchers worldwide who established this new model of the Earth with a key paper published in 1967; this talk uses his archive to show how geophysics revealed the history of the oceans, the origins and locations of vast hydrocarbon deposits, and the mechanisms behind volcanic eruptions and dangerous continental earthquakes – and what it can tell us about the possibility of life on other planets. The Geological Society, Burlington House,LONDON,W1J 0BG 13:00 – 14:00 The Royal Astronomical Society, Burlington House,LONDON,W1J 0BQ 18:00 - 19:00 (booking required) ______________________________________ Astronomically Big Data: Mapping the Galaxy and Planetary Interiors Our understanding of the natural world depends on our ability to decode signals contained in terabytes and exabytes of data. We predict earthquakes from seismic signals and map the Universe by analysing light signals. Yet the volume of data is such that even supercomputers face being overloaded with sensory data. Join us to find out how researchers are able to utilise technology to overcome sensory overload, and how their discoveries derive from extracting signals from the noise. Details of the event can also be found on Meetup where one can register to attend. _____________________________________ Library update Many new titles have been added to the Library over the summer. All new books are displayed under the 'What's new' tab on the Library catalogue http://royast.cirqahosting.com/HeritageScripts/Hapi.dll/search1?SearchPage=srchgen.htm We have also updated the list of duplicate books available to Fellows: http://royast.cirqahosting.com/HeritageScripts/Hapi.dll/DisplayWidgets?Widget1=LibraryNewsFull&PageName=Widget1.htm#LN0001 ______________________________________ RAS JOB LIST The RAS Jobs List service provides email alerts for new posts for jobseekers, together with an online archive of previous mailings. For advertisers, it provides a free, moderated distribution service. Anyone can post or subscribe to the list. For further information visit: http://www.ras.org.uk/education-and-careers/208-miscellaneous/221-jobslist ________________________________________ FRIENDS OF THE RAS If you know someone interested in astronomy that enjoys attending popular lectures and social events why not tell them about the 'Friends of the RAS'? See: http://friends.ras.org.uk/ ________________________________________ NOTES FOR FELLOWS You can now look at minutes of RAS Council meetings: http://www.ras.org.uk/about-the-ras/council To unsubscribe: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?SUBED1=ras&A=1