The whispers of rock: stories from the Earth - Dr Anjana Khatwa and Mary-Ann Ochota

If you listen, can you hear the rocks speak? The question seems absurd. After all, rocks are lifeless, inert, and silent. In The Whispers of Rock: Stories from the Earth, earth scientist Anjana Khatwa will ask us to think again and listen to their stories.

Boldly alternating between modern science and ancient wisdom, Khatwa will take you on an exhilarating journey through deep time. Explore the origins of the green pounamu that courses down New Zealand rivers, marvel at the wonder of the bluestone megaliths of Stonehenge, discover the tuff-hewn churches of Lalibela in Ethiopia, and uncover Manhattan’s bedrock of schist.

In unearthing those stories and more, Khatwa will show how rocks have always spoken to us, and we humans to them.

Delicately intertwining Indigenous stories of Earth’s creation with our scientific understanding of its development, she will showcase how our lives are intimately connected to time’s ancient storytellers.  

Booking information

Monday night lectures are open to Fellows and Members and are included in the cost of membership.

Attending in-person

• All Fellows and Members wanting to attend in person must pre-book a free ticket. You will receive an e-ticket with a QR code that will be scanned on arrival. Your ticket can be shown on a mobile phone or printed. If you do not have a smartphone, we can find your name on the door list instead.
• Doors open at 5.30pm. Please use the Society's entrance on Exhibition Road. The lecture will begin at 6.30pm.
• Monday night lectures are held in person in the Ondaatje Theatre. The bar will be open in the Map Room before and after the lecture. Please be advised all payments are card only.
• The Ondaatje Theatre is fitted with a hearing loop. For the best quality sound we recommend sitting on the outside rows of the front seating section.
• There is step free access to the theatre. Wheelchair spaces can be booked in advance. If you have any questions about the venue, please contact events@rgs.org

Watch online

• You do not need to pre-book to watch the lecture online.
• All Monday night lectures are livestreamed via our website so you can watch them from wherever you are.

If you have any questions or require assistance with your booking, please email events@rgs.org

Accessibility at our events

We want everyone to feel welcome at our events. Key accessibility features of this event include:

• Step-free access to the event
• Accessible toilets
• Assistance dogs are welcome
• Hearing loop

For full details, please visit our accessibility page. If you have any questions or specific access requirements, feel free to get in touch with us on access@rgs.org

About Monday night lectures

Our Monday night lectures are exclusive to Fellows and Members and are included in the cost of membership. Members can book to attend the lectures in-person at the Society, or enjoy them live from the comfort of your own home.

These lectures are also recorded and uploaded to our website solely for members to catch up on whenever they like. If you would like to receive a weekly reminder email about the upcoming Monday night lecture, please sign up to our Updates about our Monday night lectures newsletter.