Photographs of the 46h AGM at Cambridge
Another successful AGM and seminar!
Nearly 50 delegates joined GCG in The Sedgwick Museum, Cambridge for a number of thought provoking presentations demonstrating the many innovative ways that museums can make their collections accessible to researchers. Other highlights included a wine reception within the historic galleries of the museum, and tours of the new Forbes Collections Research Centre and the British Antarctic Survey.
As outgoing chair, Matthew Parkes awarded the The A G Brighton Medal to Monica Price, in recognition of her work throughout her career. You can read more on our blog - a full citation will be published in our journal in due course.
Winter seminar and 46th AGM of the Geological Curators' Group
How can we make our precious collections available to researchers?
10th-11th December 2019
The Sedgwick Museum, University of Cambridge, with opportunities to visit the Museum's new Collection Research Centre on the Madingley Rise site, and also the collections of the British Antarctic Survey located nearby.
The committee of GCG calls for submission of abstracts for papers and posters on the topic for the AGM Seminar on Tuesday 10th December. We are seeking interesting contributions tackling questions such as:
- how do researchers access collections?
- how do curators work better with researchers to maximise knowledge of collections?
- how can curators better help researchers create collections and secure their future in a museum?
- when is a research technique considered non-destructive?
- are all non-invasive methods genuinely not causing damage to specimens?
- when do curatorial methods compromise research tools?
- how can curators assess and weigh-up the risks to specimens from cutting edge techniques?
- are there collections that are simply too precious to allow any research on them?
- how can working with researchers enhance our public programming, and vice versa?
We seek to enhance the understanding and collaborations of museum curators and geological researchers and educators to improve both collections and broader geological research. Examples of great projects and positive outcomes will potentially make good submissions, but we also want to hear about when things have gone wrong, and the lessons from that. Practical demonstrations or active workshop style ideas will be welcomed as well as oral and poster presentations.
Please send your abstract as a Microsoft Word or PDF document no longer than one typewritten side of A4, and including pictures if you wish, to
Notice of Annual General Meeting
Notice is hereby given that the 46th Annual General Meeting of the Geological Curators’ Group will be hosted by Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences at 4pm on the 10th December 2019. All Committee posts (except Chair) can be renewed annually. Nominations for the posts of Committee Members must be made by two members of the Group and submitted in writing or by email to the Secretary, Sarah King (
Electronic copies of documents for the meeting will be made available here in advance of the meeting.
- GCG 46th AGM Agenda
- Minutes of 45th AGM (Cardiff) for approval
- GCG Annual Report for 2019 (draft version for meeting)
Booking is now closed for this event.
If you have any queries regarding your existing booking, please contact