Carlisle rock star leads world

By Meg Jorsh

Last updated 12:20, Wednesday, 27 August 2008

A CARLISLE scientist is heading for the history books as the leader of the world’s biggest ever geological mapping project.

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First: Ian Jackson

Upperby-born Ian Jackson, 58, is co-ordinating scientists from 83 nations as they produce the first digital geological map of the world.

The OneGeology scheme will do the same for the rocks beneath our feet as Google Earth has for the planet’s surface. The resulting map will be available to the public via the internet.

Mr Jackson said: “Geology is pretty fundamental to all of our lives. You need geology to know where to build, how to excavate tunnels, where oil and gas are going to come from.”

As well as locating natural resources, the map will help scientists plan for disasters like earthquakes and volcanoes. Geological data will be taken from every country, regardless of developmental status.

He added: “I’d describe it like a jigsaw.

“Every country involved has a piece, and the project has made it possible for them all to come together.”

Supported by United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and six other international bodies, the map is the UN’s flagship project for the International Year of Planet Earth 2008. A new web language has been written for the scheme, allowing nations to share data with each other and the public.

“All this was only an idea in 2006,” said Mr Jackson. “Given that geologists usually work in millions of years, it’s been a great achievement.”

Growing up in Oaklands Drive, Upperby, Ian attended Carlisle Grammar School. Family trips to the Lake District had a big impact on his career path.

He said: “I used to like walks with a purpose and by the time I was seven or eight I was really into collecting stones. Cumbrian geology is just staggering. It’s the most beautiful part of England.”

For more information and a video of the event, visit www.onegeology.org.