A crucible of knowledge

In the early nineteenth century geology was the ‘queen of sciences’, with a profile in public life equivalent to genetics or the study of space in our modern age.  The evidence of the fossil record and the shape of landforms created searching debate.  Scientists sought to reconcile the geological evidence with the biblical history of the world - then reckoned to be little more than 6,000 years old with a landscape shaped by Noah's flood.  Dorset and East Devon was a crucible for this debate, and some of the major figures who studied the evidence coming from the coast are shown below.

The outdoor classroom

From the early days of geology to the present day, the Dorset and East Devon Coast has been a place of discovery.  Scientists, researchers, students and conservationists have visited, learnt and gone way enriched.  Today the Jurassic Coast is visited by millions of people including tens of thousands of students every year.  Many of the coastal centres provide organised visits for schools and walks for the public.