When the Sahara was green 

Thursday July 2nd
7:45 pm

Emeritus Prof Martin Williams 

University of Adelaide 

Abstract: The Sahara is our largest hot desert. It extends 5000 km from west to east and 3000 km from north to south. Driving across the Sahara is like being on the moon. Not a blade of grass. Nothing but sand, wind, dust; dust, wind, sand. Present aridity contrasts with abundant evidence that the Sahara was once a green and pleasant land. Rock paintings and rock engravings of elephants, giraffes and rhinos are common on sheltered rock outcrops throughout the desert. The rock paintings also depict scenes of cattle herding. Even more persuasive is the evidence provided by the fossil remains of hippos, crocodiles, turtles and Nile perch embedded in now dry lake sediments. When and why was the Sahara once able to support such an abundance of life? When and why did it become dry? Did humans cause the Sahara to become a desert? This talk will seek to answer these questions

Bio: Martin Williams has always been fascinated by desert landscapes. He has travelled widely in many parts of the Sahara and has worked with international teams of archaeologists and geologists in some of the remoter parts of that vast desert. His more recent books include Climate Change in Deserts (CUP, 2014), Nile Waters and Saharan Sands (Springer, 2016) and The Nile Basin (CUP, 2019). His latest book When the Sahara was Green: The story of our greatest desert is written for non-specialist readers. It will be published next year by Princeton University Press. He is Professor Emeritus and Adjunct Professor in Earth Sciences at the University of Adelaide, Australia.

HOW TO ATTEND A ZOOM MEETING

You will need a computer, laptop or tablet with audio and video facility. Zoom will also work on a mobile phone although the picture will be very small. You will need to download and install the Zoom app by going to zoom.us and following the instructions (very easy!).

You will receive an invitation prior to the meeting. This will give a link to the meeting. All you need to do is click on the link to join the meeting. It is good to do this about five minutes before the meeting is due to start, in order to check that your audio is turned on and working. If you would like people to see you (and we would love to see you!) you can turn on your video also.

On your screen you will be able to see and hear whoever is speaking at the time, and the Powerpoint presentation when it commences. During the presentations the audience will be muted, but at the end there will be an opportunity for questions. Questions should be posed by means of “Chat” – a feature which you will see at the bottom of your ZOOM screen. Type in your question which will be put to the presenter when the time comes. At the same time you will be un-muted in case you want to follow up the question.

The meeting will be recorded: a link to the recording will be posted in the members’ section of the website (under MINUTES and other resources) following the meeting.

All Workshops have been cancelled until further notice on account of COVID-19.