AGM and Jurassic Calamari (S Devon Branch)

After our Annual General Meeting, we will have a talk ‘Jurassic calamari: new research on fossil squid-like cephalopods from the Wessex basin’ given by Malcolm Hart (Emeritus Professor, Plymouth University).*

Belemnotheutis. Image contributed by Prof. Malcolm Hart.

In the Jurassic rocks of Dorset and Wiltshire numerous outstanding fossils have been found by collectors such as Mary Anning. These include specimens with a great many anatomical details, as well as behaviour such as ‘squid feeding on fish’. Using quite stunning images Malcolm will explain ‘life in the Jurassic seas’ –  all of which is beautifully preserved in the rocks of the Westcountry.

* Talk postponed from December 2022.

Malcolm Hart DSc FGS CGeol CSci is Emeritus Professor in Micropalaeontology at the University of Plymouth, having ‘retired’ in 2010. Since 1965, he has been undertaking research on foraminifera and several other groups of microfossils. Best known for his published work on the foraminiferal biostratigraphy of the Cretaceous he has recently been involved in a study of Jurassic coleoid fossils and the statoliths and arm hooks found in many Jurassic sediments. The Cretaceous work involved the site investigation and construction of the Channel Tunnel and Thames Barrier – both of which used foraminiferal biostratigraphy quite extensively.

In the University Plymouth he served as Head of Department of Geological Sciences for 10 years before becoming Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation) of the University for 8 years and Associate Dean of Science (Research) for a further 6 years.

In recent years he has been awarded the Brady Medal by The Micropalaeontological Society, the Lamarck Medal by the European Geosciences Union (EGU) and the Gryzbowski Award by the Gryzbowski Foundation (Krakow, Poland).