Geology Students Explore Millions of Years of Earth History

Recently, students visited Wren’s Nest Nature Reserve, where they were tasked with observing, sketching and taking measurements of the geology around them to work out the palaeoenvironment and structural history of the area. But, most importantly, there was fossil collecting!

There were some fantastic finds throughout the day. Over 700 different types of fossil can be found at Wren’s Nest. In fact, 186 types were first discovered and described there, and 86 of them are found nowhere else on Earth. The weather was very kind to us and our geologists had a brilliant time gaining valuable hands-on field experience.

The adventure continued with a narrow boat trip through the Dudley limestone caverns, travelling back through more than 400 million years of geological time. Students even had the opportunity to try ‘legging’, the traditional method miners once used to move through the tunnels.

The department was also delighted to see students representing KEDST at the Girls into Geoscience 2026 event hosted by Plymouth University.

Over several action-packed days, students took part in hands-on fieldwork and laboratory sessions, heard from inspiring women working across the geoscience sector and networked with fellow young geologists from around the UK. This year’s field activities took place on Dartmoor, where the famous Dartmoor ponies proved to be a particular highlight.

The event provided a fantastic opportunity for young women to explore careers in Earth and environmental sciences, helping to inspire the next generation of geoscientists and future Earth scientists.

Our students returned excited, inspired and full of new ideas for their studies. Experiences like these demonstrate how geology extends far beyond the classroom, offering the chance to investigate the Earth’s history first-hand while exploring the many opportunities available within STEM careers.

The future of Earth science is looking brighter than ever. 🌍✨🔬🌋💎