Is the land beneath us more than just a static canvas for humanity?
In short: We often view the earth as a flat surface for building and digging. In this lecture, physicist and oceanographer Helen Czerski explores the dynamic nature of rocks and soil, examining how the ground behaves across both short and very long timescales.
Recorded on 19 February 2026 at Barnard's Inn Hall, London, this presentation shifts our perspective from land as a mere foundation to a complex, active system. Czerski investigates the mechanics of the earth, considering the increasing value of our finite surface area and what the future holds for the ground we inhabit.
The lecture draws on the expertise of a scientist who has conducted field research in the Arctic, Antarctic, Pacific, and North Atlantic. By looking at both the geological and temporal dimensions of the earth, the session challenges us to rethink the stability of the very surface we stand on.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Ground We Stand On - Helen Czerski
- Also: The Ground We Stand On
- Also: The Ground We Stand On - Helen Czerski - Gresham College Lectures
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