Events & Courses

This event is to follow up the Geological Society's first Geopoetry Day (held in 2011), and was due to take place at the Scottish Poetry Library, Edinburgh. While due to the coronavirus situation it will now take place online, we are delighted to present a programme that brings together voices from around the world while remaining firmly rooted in Scotland.

Rocks have long inspired poets (refer to Burns' "O my Luve's like a red, red rose" poem 2794): "Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear, And the rocks melt wi' the sun".

To the present day poets are similarly inspired. Michael McKimm's Fossil Sunshine (2013) and "MAP, Poems after William Smith's Geological Map of 1815" (2015) showed how geological subject matter from Geopoetry 2011 could inspire poets: "...the poems here make Smith's map anew in moving and surprising ways". The Jurassic Coast Poems (2017) by Sarah Acton, the Jurassic resident poet, showed continued inspiration: "We hear the red rock Speak in ripples".

This event, to be held on National Poetry Day (1 October 2020), is hosted by the Geological Society (in conjunction with the Central Scotland Group), the Scottish Poetry Library and the Edinburgh Geological Society and will bring together poets and geoscientists to further encourage the rocks to speak.

Thanks to the sponsorship of the Scottish Energy Forum, registration for this event is free.

Programme

• Download the Geopoetry 2020 programme

Activities include:

• Talks and readings from Yvonne Reddick, Sarah Acton, Norrie Bissell, Nia Davies, Alyson Hallett and more
• Ken Cockburn (Edinburgh Poetry Tours) on Edinburgh/Scottish poets with geological gifts
• Hugh Miller Writing Competition poetry winners Jack Cooper (18-25) and Claire Rinterknecht (U18)
• Photographs, Paintings and Music
• Poetry readings
• Headline act: John Hegley

Registration

Registration is now open. This event is virtual but booking is essential.

Thanks to the sponsorship of the Scottish Energy Forum, the registration is free.

Venue

This event will be virtual and held online.

Organising committee

• Patrick Corbett, Heriot-Watt University
• Stuart Harker, Consultant
• Phil Ringrose, Equinor/NTNU
• Bob Gatliff, Edinburgh Geological Society
• Michael McKimm, Geological Society/Poet
• Asif Khan, Scottish Poetry Library
• Peter Anning, Central Scotland Regional Group
• Dorrik Stow, Heriot-Watt University
• Tim Duffy, British Geological Survey
• Lara Reid, Friends of Hugh Miller Society
• Norman Bissell, Scottish Centre for Geopoetics

Contact

Please contact [email protected] with any enquiries.