The Natural History Museum is to open its first out-reach study centre, the new Jurassic Coast Studies Centre.  The pilot centre, located in Lyme Regis at the heart of the Jurassic Coast - England's only natural World Heritage Site, will offer a range of natural science courses, led by the Natural History Museum's scientists. 

The innovative programme of courses will run throughout February and March 2010.Working with the Field Studies Council (the environmental education charity) and Lyme Regis Development Trust, the Natural History Museum is providing a taster of what's to come in 2012. 

If the pilot project is a success, the Natural History Museum will establish a much larger centre for earth and natural science education, right at the heart of the landscape designated globally for its significant earth science value and history. In a unique and innovative programme of field-based learning, the line-up includes a choice of 14 courses. 

Each led by the National History Museum's world-renowned specialists from the fields of geology, entomology, botany, mineralogy and palaeontology. The course schedule includes:

• 11-14 February: The Jurassic Coast, a complete petroleum system / Professor Andy Fleet
• 25-28 February: Geology of Jurassic Coast / Professor Andy Fleet & Dr Lorna Steel
• 28 February - 2 March: An introduction to fossil collecting / Dr Paul Taylor & Dr Zerina Johanson
• 2-4 March: How to identify fossils / Dr Lorna Steel & Dr Zerina Johanson
• 4-7 March: An introduction to microfossils & shell sands / Adrian Rundle
• 7-12 March: Soil invertebrates / Dr Paul Eggleton, Emma Sherlock & Kelly Inward
• 12-14 March:Meteorites & early solar system / Dr Dominik Hezel
• CANCELLED 14-17 March: Introduction to meiofauna / Dr Tim Ferrero
• CANCELLED 17-20 March: Introduction to marine nematodes / Dr Tim Ferrero
• 20-23 March: Geology of Jurassic Coast / Richard Edmonds & Dr Martin Munt
• CANCELLED 23-26 March: Parasitic worms & crustaceans / Professor Geoff Boxshall & Eileen Harris
• 26-29 March: British bryozoans / Piotr Kuklinski
• 29-31 March: Identification of British plants / Dr Fred Rumsey

The scientists will use the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site as their learning resource.  The Jurassic Coast will be their enormous outdoor classroom. Covering 95 miles of stunning coastline from East Devon to Dorset, with rocks recording 185 million years of the Earth's history, the Jurassic Coast provides a unique insight into the Earth Sciences as it clearly depicts a geological ‘walk through time'.

Course tutor, Dr Martin Munt of the Palaeontology Department at the Natural History Museum, says, "Fossils record important stories about the history of life on Earth, and stories about the people that collected them.  And there's no doubt that the best place in the world for field work is the Jurassic Coast".

The Jurassic Coast Studies Centre is designed to appeal to anyone wishing to expand their knowledge of natural sciences or further their career - beginners, collectors, science teachers, students, professionals, specialist interest groups or environmental professionals on a career development course. In addition to the practical side of the fieldtrip, courses combine lectures, hands-on laboratory based work and discussion.

Bookings are via the Field Studies Council (FSC):

Telephone 0845 345 4071 or
visit www.field-studies-council.org  

The Jurassic Coast Studies Centre will be based at the Victoria House in the heart of Lyme Regis. Residential prices range from £210 - £495 and non-residential from £158 - £350.