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University of Liverpool News Story
University of Liverpool scientists showcased their research into the study of Earth’s magnetic core at the prestigious Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition.
What is it about?
In July 2019, the Geomagnetism Laboratory at the University of Liverpool showcased their research into the study of Earth’s magnetic core at the prestigious Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition. Their Magnetic to the Core exhibit explored how it is possible to study the strength and behaviour of the Earth’s magnetic field over billions of years, and the insights this provides.
The Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition is a free event for visitors of all ages and features curated exhibits alongside a series of inspiring talks and activities. The Magnetic to the Core team were one of 22 exhibitors at the annual event and were the only stand showcasing Earth science research.
During the week-long exhibition, well over a thousand people visited the Magnetic to the Core stand, which consisted of four hands-on experiments. These interactive activities allowed visitors to explore the range of tasks that a paleomagnetist does, from the collection and measurement of samples to understanding the behaviour of the Earth’s magnetic field and its origin in the outer core.
Why is it important?
The Magnetic to the Core exhibit draws on research and teaching from the University’s Geomagnetism Laboratory which comprises the Leverhulme-funded Determining Earth’s Evolution through Paleomagnetism (DEEP) group, and several projects funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).
The Geomagnetism Laboratory brings together world-leading research expertise across geophysics and geology to develop palaeomagnetism as a tool for understanding deep Earth processes occurring across timescales of thousands to billions of years. By understanding deep Earth processes such as those responsible for the Earth’s magnetic field we can gain improved insight into geological phenomena that affect our everyday lives.
The Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition provided a high-profile opportunity to engage young people, parents and teachers with this cutting-edge geomagnetism research and inspire them to learn more about the Earth’s magnetic field.
Perspectives
We were delighted that Liverpool’s research into Earth’s magnetic field was recognised by the Royal Society for being at the cutting edge of research into Earth’s interior. This exhibition was a perfect opportunity to showcase our study into the deep workings of our planet using paleomagnetism and we hope that Magnetic to the Core provided visitors with an interactive combination of fun and learning around Earth science.
Dr.
Annique
van der Boon
University of Liverpool
Studies of Earth’s magnetic field have been going on since the 1600s but we continue to make exciting new discoveries about this primary property of our planet today. We were keen to make the most of this opportunity to interact with the public about our research and communicate how the rarely talked about phenomenon of geomagnetism is crucial to society and in telling us about the inner workings of Earth.
Prof
Andy
Biggin
University of Liverpool
