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In the course of the lifetime of one geologist, our understanding of how the Earth works; the processes by which it was formed and how it has continually been on the move, has changed dramatically. James Hutton, during the Edinburgh Enlightenment over 200 years ago, discovered the evidence for "deep time" and a very old age for the Earth. He also saw evidence of volcanic processes operative in the past. From these beginnings developed our modern understanding of plate tectonics.
The talk will explore some of the critical evidence of this "big idea" from various parts of the world. The evidence of continental collision that is there in the Himalayas, the evidence of new oceanic crust being formed in Iceland, the hot spot activity that gave us Tenerife and the subduction which produced the dramatic volcanic eruptions of New Zealand and the devastating earthquakes both in New Zealand and Japan.
We live on a Dynamic Earth where understanding how our planet works is key to surviving future natural hazards as well as coping with our need for resources of all sorts, both  physical and energy. It is also essential in addressing some of the key issues of the day like climate change. One of Hutton's key ideas was that the "past is the key to the future". A secure future demands a better understanding of our planet's past. There is, perhaps, hope for organisms who adapt to changing environments, but is there hope for an organism that changes environments to suit itself? That organism is Homo sapiens!

Stuart Monro, Scientific Director of Dynamic Earth with continuing responsibility for the scientific content, is a geologist who graduated with a First Class Honours degree at Aberdeen University in 1970, has a PhD from the University of Edinburgh and was given an honorary doctorate (DUniv. He spent most of his career with the British Geological Survey (BGS) working on sedimentary rocks, the evolution of sedimentary basins and on environmental geology but is now heavily committed to public engagement. He was a long time tutor in Earth Science with the Open University and is a Visiting Professor in the School of Geoscience at the Edinburgh University.  He has a strong interest in schools science and the role of Earth Science in the curriculum and is on the management group of the Scottish Earth Science Education Forum and Chair of the Earth Science Trust which raises funds from Industry and Trusts for Earth Science education. He is a Trustee of the National Museums Scotland, a non-executive Director of the Edinburgh International Science Festival and was the first Independent Co-Chair of the Scottish Science Advisory Council that advises Scottish Government on science policy. He was awarded an OBE for services to science, December 2006.