Advisory Board (in progress)

Peter Cawood, Monash University
Gillian Foulger, Durham University
Roberta Rudnick, University of California Santa Barbara
Mike Searle, Oxford University

About Oliver Strimpel

I started with physics as an undergraduate at Cambridge University, then astrophysics for my DPhil at Oxford University with Dennis Sciama as my supervisor, and then went to the Science Museum, London, as curator for mathematics and computing. There I discovered the rewards and challenges of conveying scientific and technological subjects to a public with a wide range of prior knowledge. In 1984, I was recruited to The Computer Museum in Boston where, as Curator and Director, I developed exhibitions on the history, technology, and applications of computers. Later, I became a patent attorney, and was appointed Senior Patent Counsel at Avid Technology, Inc.

My desire to understand how the physical landscape came to be led me to wonder about the processes that have been at work since the planet formed over four billion years ago. Over the past decade, I became increasingly fascinated by what geology has uncovered about these processes, taking several courses at the Open University and at MIT. At MIT, Professor Sam Bowring invited me to learn about geochronology in his lab. Then, on a field trip to Annapurna, Professor Mike Searle encouraged me to take on a research project as a visiting fellow at Oxford. That developed into an effort to pin down movement along the Karakoram fault in Ladakh by radiometrically dating the various intrusive phases adjacent to the fault near Lake Pangong. Geology Bites grew out of a desire to share nuggets and perspectives of this remarkable field of study.

Geology Bites in the News

Guertin, L., and Strimpel, O. (2021), GeoEd Trek, AGU https://blogs.agu.org/geoedtrek/2021/05/26/geology-bites/

Johnson, T (2022), Book review: Geology Bites podcast by Oliver Strimpel. Geological Magazine https://doi.org/10.1017/S0016756822000024

Peters, C., and Strimpel, O. (2022), The Geological Society of Australia, The Australian Geologist, 202, 30 Geology Bites Podcast

Sherman, S (2022), And The Next Thing You Know Podcast Interview with Oliver Strimpel

Peters, C (2022), Proceedings of the Open University Geological Society, 8, 145 Podcast Review, Geology Bites

Lo, M (2022), GEOSCIENTIST, Autumn 2022, 46 Geology Bites Podcast Review

Acknowledgements

I’m very grateful to Mike Searle and my Advisory Board for their enthusiastic support and advice; Steve Lord and Harriet Strimpel for reviewing each episode prior to release; Mary McCann for copy editing the website, transcripts, and glossaries; John Kubale for graphic design; Steve Lord and Nelson Eby for editing the transcripts and compiling the glossaries; Sherri Donaldson for help with social media; and Rob Gonsalves and Randy Fayan for technical advice.

Listener Comments

Exceptionally engaging
A thrill to listen to. The best science communication I’ve come across in the podcast world. Find yourself just a little curious about earth science? That’s all you need to make Geology Bites a rewarding listen. The host (Oliver Strimpel) brings on outstanding research scientists from a wide range of specialties. They’re deeply knowledgeable and yet still full of excitement and curiosity. Oliver does a consistently impressive job ensuring that the conversation is clear and the language accessible even as he and his guests explore the nuances that make the science so fascinating. A rare opportunity to hear practicing scientists share what they know and what they still want to learn.
—Peter J.

Unique
Where else can you hear interesting interviews with accomplished geologists. It’s a gift.
—Prospect Farms

Erudite
I just recently discovered this erudite podcast, and I highly recommend it. The half-hour segments are formatted as conversations about topics in geology that many of us who love geology haven’t had the opportunity to explore. The experts are leading researchers, the website materials and transcripts make it a complete package. Not a second wasted. Love it!
—Sloanhoo

More Brain, Less Babble
Smart, engaging and blessedly banter-free. Impeccably prepared host and guests on a par with In Our Time. Worthy of five stars before realizing the Geology Bites websites provide outstanding visual references. Basically this podcast is my new best friend. Listen and lean. Listen again.
—Amelia S.

Excellent!
The host is a skilled scientific interviewer. The guests are invariably articulate and extremely knowledgeable. The information is often deeply technical but always explained very clearly. One of the best science podcasts I’ve heard.
Matthew V.

Well done
A great show that caters to all flavors of geoscience.
—Science Hardcore

The bar is set for a science podcast
Excellent podcast. Great guests and topics, with a focused, academic style. May be somewhat technical for those who haven’t received any education on geology, and I would count myself as such a person, but it left me wanting to study more and fill in the gaps.
—skooma889

Superb
Best podcast in multiple categories. Refreshing intellectual energy. Great guests.
—BeckJosh

One of the finest science podcasts in any subject
This is perhaps the best science podcast out there. Well produced and well researched, interviews that are engaging, perceptive, and has great scientific depth, but also broadly illuminating. It is a model of effective science communication for every scientist/science communicator out there. I give it a million stars if it’s possible.
—Laohuhuzi

Outstanding
Geology Bites is outstanding. I often feel like I’m participating in your interviews because you anticipate my question, especially with general topics, e.g., astrophysics. It’s very engaging. Thank you so very much!

I learn a lot
Thank you, Oliver for inviting such an interesting range of guests, asking what needs to be asked, rephrasing and checking what they say. Most guests speak enthusiastically in words that only people in their specific field fully understand, so your final step is absolutely essential. I learn a lot from you and your guests, please keep doing what you do.
—Liz C.

Rich source of geological knowledge
Oliver, many thanks for your efforts to create such an engaging and rich source of geological knowledge for the laymen and geologists alike. I deeply enjoy your interviews and have benefited from the accompanying materials on your website. With gratitude.
—John A.

A gift
I just want to thank you for your incredible podcasts. I've followed you for several years now and am truly amazed by the guests, your ability to translate into understandable language, and the podcast illustrations. I listen and follow the illustrations to gain further understanding. What a gift to have all this, so accessible and rich in science. I am retired and live in Helena Montana.
—Cora H.

Excellent Series
This is a really excellent series of podcasts. I am an enthusiastic reader about all things geological, but often find explanations of geological events hard to follow. The combination of expert speakers, very pertinent questioning by yourself, and accompanying maps and text, provides a much more understandable way of getting to grips with a topic. I have just listened to the episode on the Caledonian progeny and wish I had known about it before visiting the area some years ago.
—Sue R.