The Stac Fada Member of the Stoer Group is now widely accepted as a product of an ancient meteorite impact. Initially assigned a c. 1.2-billion-year-old age, new dating places the event 200 million years later at c. 1.0 Ga. This evening’s lecture will highlight how this new information changes our understanding of the geological evolution of the Scottish Highlands and those regions elsewhere linked to that evolution.

Bio: I am a field geologist interested in reconstructing Earth’s surface environments during pivotal episodes in Earth history. I have worked from above the Arctic circle to the deserts of southern Africa and on rocks that span 4 billion years of the geological record. My career began with a PhD in 1986 at Penn State University, USA, followed by 10 years at the City University of New York. In 1996, I moved to St Andrews University where I am now Emeritus Professor in the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences. During that time my duties included Director of Teaching, Director of Research, and Head of School. For my efforts in trying to better understand Scottish geology I was awarded the Clough Medal in 2024.

Book Your Free Ticket