This Land Doesn't Lie Still: How Geology Shapes Scotland
From Robbie Bushe
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From Robbie Bushe
Everywhere you look, there is evidence of how geology shapes Scotland – not just our landscape, but how people have lived in the past and our modern society in a myriad of ways. And geology doesn't stop, it will continue to influence Scotland into the future.
Geology shapes Scotland: everywhere you look you can see the influence of landscape in shaping where people have settled, the resources we have used, and the very character of the land, the settlements and perhaps even the people. Scotland has had an amazing geological past, this wee piece of continental crust records a palimpsest of episode after episode of change beginning billions of years ago. That's why modern Scotland is so varied, in terms of scenery and land use, which contributes to a strong sense of place that is rooted in the Scottish psyche. But Scotland isn't finished – as Edinburgh's great(est) thinker, James Hutton, understood, the geological processes responsible for the current state of things will continue into the future. Climate change, sea level rise, erosion, volcanic activity will affect future generations.
Angus MillerAngus Miller is a geologist who is passionate about the hidden role that landscape and rocks have on modern Scotland. Angus teaches Scottish geology with the Centre for Open Learning and leads walks and trips exploring different areas, starting with the geological background and exploring how it influences land, nature and people. As Chair of the Scottish Geodiversity Forum he is involved in campaigning for better recognition of the importance and value of geology for society.
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