1. Mapping the Anthropocene impact on the biosphere – 14^th March 2019

Our very own alumnus, Professor Mark Williams (Leicester) has kindly agreed to give this year’s John & Anne Phillips Lecture. It will be at 6pm on Thursday March 14^th, in the Allam Lecture Theatre (Business School).

Mark Williams, School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, University of Leicester, UK

Most species on planet Earth have ecological ranges defined by factors such as latitudinal changes in surface temperature and rainfall, or geographical isolation. These patterns have evolved over millions, sometimes tens of millions of years. This natural pattern is being overprinted by the actions of Homo sapiens, which has made the whole Earth its ecological range. The human ancestral pattern of gradually increasing influence on the Earth can be traced in the stratigraphic record for nearly 3 million years, as a time transgressive pattern beginning in Africa, and gradually extending throughout the world by the late Pleistocene. However, in its later and more pervasive stages, particularly from the mid to late 20^th century onwards, it provides intercontinental patterns of species distributions with clearly identifiable biostratigraphical signatures that may help to define an isochronous stratigraphical boundary for the Anthropocene. Moreover, these biostratigraphical patterns map a profoundly human-changed biosphere.

No need to book. The room holds 400!

If you have any queries please contact Dr Liam Herringhshaw, Geology - University of Hull - L.Herringshaw@hull.ac.uk