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SUMMARY:The Inner Beauty of Crystals - Ian Mercer\, Natural History Museum
  London (retired)
DTSTART:20120510T180000Z
DTEND:20120510T190000Z
UID:TALK35326@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:John O'Toole
DESCRIPTION:An illustrated introduction to the complex\, fascinating and b
 eautiful world of crystals.\n\nIan Mercer\, professional scientist and edu
 cator\, will describe how crystals may be found throughout the natural wor
 ld\, in plants\, rocks and even around distant stars\, and how\, despite t
 heir kaleidoscopic variety\, they all conform to surprisingly few three-di
 mensional patterns.\n\nFollowing a childhood fascination with crystal gard
 ens and pyrotechnics\, and a brief spell in the chemical industry\, he joi
 ned the British Geological Survey (South Kensington\, London) in 1965. Aft
 er gaining his Diploma in Gemmology he transferred to the Geological Museu
 m (London). He gained a degree in Geology with Crystallography during the 
 excitement of the plate tectonics revolution\, while working on the first 
 major modern geology exhibition Story of the Earth. Other exhibitions and 
 books culminated in the Treasures of the Earth exhibition (1986). He joine
 d the Gemmological Association as Director of Education in 1990. This took
  him to the jade markets of China\, the snows of Lapland and the massive g
 em-shows of Tucson Arizona. Although now retired\, he continues to share h
 is passion for crystals and gems in books\, articles and talks. He relishe
 s the challenge of simply explaining complex subjects. \n\nFree admission.
  \nOpen to the public. \nSuitable for GCSE students.\nNo tickets\, so arri
 ve early to get a good seat.
LOCATION:Pfizer Lecture Theatre\, Department of Chemistry\, Lensfield Road
 \, Cambridge
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