Rocks and minerals revealed: An introductory course in geology

Dr. Lucinda Backwell is a lecturer in palaeontology. Her research interest focus on early hominid cultural behaviour and cognition, vertebrate taphonomy, correlating archaeology, palaeontology and climate change  and ethnoarchaeology amongst Kalahari Bushmen. She has published widely including on the Sediba hominid.

Grant Bybee is an associate lecturer in geochemistry and petrology and a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Geosciences . Grant graduated from Wits University in 2008 with a B.Sc. Honours degree (cum laude) in geology and geochemistry. His current research focuses on using geochemistry, in particular isotope geochemistry, to understand aspects of solid Earth evolution. He was awarded a NRF/DoL Scarce Skills Scholarship for his postgraduate research and is also a Pre-Doctoral Fellow at the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism at the Carnegie Institute for Science in Washington D.C. 

Prof Grant Cawthorn Grant has taught at Wits for 38 years and is the Platinum Industry’s Professor of Igneous Petrology. He was the first recipient of the University’s distinguished teaching award, and was awarded a Doctorate of Science in 2006. He has been chairperson of the Mineralogical Association of South Africa and the Bushveld Branch of the Geological Society. He has published over 140 research papers in international journals.

Prof. Gillian Drennan, is principally involved in teaching introductory geology courses in the School of Geosciences. She is involved in developing teaching materials that promote skills development as well as content knowledge in Geology.  In recognition of her excellent teaching abilities, innovative methods of instruction, and attracting and enthusing students into Geology, she has received several distinguished teaching awards. She also serves as Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Affairs.

Prof Guy Charlesworth, a graduate of the University of Kwa-Zulu – Natal has recently retired after 30 years of service to the School of Geosciences. He continues to assist in the School as a Manager of a large Research Project. His primary interests are in Structural Geology and the structural controls of mineral deposits.

Prof Roger Gibson is head of the School of Geosciences. He has a broad teaching and research experience and has won a University award for the quality of his teaching.  His research focusses on the fields of structural geology, high-grade metamorphism and on meteorite impact sites. He has published widely most notable his books on the Vredefort meteorite impact.

Dr. Zubair Jinnah is a lecturer in sedimentology in the School of Geosciences. His research focuses on the relationship between sedimentation, tectonics, and climatic and environmental change, particularly in fossil-bearing rock successions that are important in understanding the development of life.

Prof Judith Kinnaird is Director of the Economic Geology Research Institute in the School and is also President Elect of the Society of Economic Geologists. She taught in Scotland and Ireland prior to joining Wits in 1999 and has worked on tin deposits in Nigeria, lead-zinc and copper deposits in Ireland, uranium in Namibia and South Africa, gold in Mozambique, and pegmatites in Nigeria, Somaliland and Namibia. Current research is in Zambia and Namibia as well as on aspects of magmatism and mineralisation in the Bushveld Complex.

Prof Terence (Spike) McCarthy is a Professor Emeritus in the School of Geosciences at Wits. He has wide research interests in the geology and geomorphology of southern Africa and has also published extensively on the wetlands of the region, notably the Okavango Delta. He is an author of two best-selling popular books on geology. He has lectured widely on acid mine drainage in South Africa.

Dr Paul Nex is an Honorary Visiting Lecturer in the School of Geosciences at Wits. He has a broad experience of ore deposits on several continents with special expertise on rare earth deposits, lead-zinc deposits in Ireland, uranium deposits in Namibia, and the Bushveld Complex in South Africa. He has served the GSSA as president and the Society of Economic geologists as vice-president.

Dr Sue Webb is a senior lecturer in geophysics in the School of Geosciences at Wits. She is the International Secretary for the Society of Exploration geophysicists where among other duties she helps to identify international issues of strategic importance to AGU. She is also a member of SGA in South Africa.

Registration form

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COST – 20 weeks from 6 pm to 9 pm each Wednesday

         R4000 per participant, R3000 for retired participants,  R7500 for a couple

For any queries on the course contact:-

Grant Bybee                 011 717 6633               083 412 0151             grant.bybee@wits.ac.za

Judith Kinnaird         011 717 6583               084 696 7228              judith.kinnaird@wits.ac.za

Please fax this completed form to 011 717 6579 or Email Safia.cannell@wits.ac.za

An invoice will be issued in late February to those who have submitted registration forms once the minimum number of 15 participants have applied for admission to the course 

As a reference please put your surname and invoice number on the deposit slip

DEPOSIT SLIP OR TRANSFER FORM SHOULD BE FAXED OR EMAILED TO safia.cannell@wits.ac.za (Fax 086 553 5460) AS PROOF OF PAYMENT PLEASE