Meeting young Mr Hutton

The Edinburgh Geological Society’s Introducing James Hutton event took place at Dynamic Earth on 6 October 2025.  The event also launched the Tercentenary celebrations for 2026, marking 300 years since Hutton’s birth on 3 June 1726.  A large crowd of over 150 people attended this event, and we heard from three guest speakers; Prof Colin Campbell (CEO, James Hutton Institute), Dr Rachel Walcott (Head of Mineral, Meteorite and Rock collections at the National Museums Scotland) and Dr Angus Miller (Promotions Coordinator, EGS).  Our compere for the evening was Dr Hermione Cockburn (Trustee, National Museums Scotland).

A highlight of the evening was a visit from young Mr Hutton, aged nineteen in 1745 – ably played by Edinburgh actor Danny Gorringe.  We learnt much about his time in Edinburgh, his family circumstances, his ambitions and plans that might lay ahead for him.

The Tercentenary celebrations, including the new Deep Time Trail at Siccar Point, will be supported by our Crowdfunder appeal, which runs until the end of November.  All contributions to the appeal aimed to raise £75,000 will be duly welcomed. There are plans a foot for lectures, exhibitions and excursions during 2026.  Events will be held across Scotland, including in the village of Cockburnspath in the Scottish Borders.

Finally, the EGS President, Prof Mark Wilkinson took the microphone at the end of the evening to announce the awarding of two Honorary EGS Fellowships; the first to one of speakers on the evening, Prof Colin Campbell in recognition of his leadership in promoting James Hutton and the Tercentenary  and secondly, to musician Karine Polwart, in recognition of her encouragement of public interest in geology through music and writing.

Thank you to all the contributors and organisers behind the scenes who made this such a successful launch of the Tercentenary year.