In the world of geology, pressure creates diamonds. For the Rhodes University Department of Geology, a different kind of pressure exists. It is the pressure of being the smallest department of its kind in the country. Yet, this pressure has created a legacy of excellence.

This year marks the 120th anniversary of the department. Established in 1905, just a year after Rhodes University was founded, it has spent over a century mapping the earth beneath our feet. As the year draws to a close, the department continues to reflect on a milestone that was emphatically celebrated in June at the Geological Society of South Africa’s biannual Geocongress in Bloemfontein.

Despite being the smallest participating academic department by a significant margin, Rhodes University’s Geology Department arrived with the largest contingent of academic research staff of any South African university. While other institutions sent two or three representatives, Rhodes University fielded a team of six. They were accompanied by a cohort of postgraduate students ready to present their work.

“We were anecdotally, and as far as I can tell correctly, adjudged to have contributed the most academic research staff of any university,” says Professor Steve Prevec, Head of the Department.

The turnout was not just a flex of numbers. It was a testament to the department’s ethos of research intensity. The team delivered 12 oral presentations covering a vast array of topics, from the sedimentology of the East African Rift to the petrogenesis of layered intrusions.

Defining the field: alumni at the forefront

The true measure of a department’s success is found in its graduates. At Geocongress, the influence of Rhodes University alumni was undeniable.

The conference-opening plenary address is the most prestigious slot on the programme. It was delivered by Dr Geoffrey Howarth. A graduate of Rhodes University Geology for his BSc, Honours, MSc, and PhD (2013), Dr Howarth’s presentation on "Kimberlitic olivine as a tool for constraining deep mantle processes" set the tone for the entire event.

Seeing a Rhodes University graduate define the scientific agenda for the national community serves as a powerful validation of the department’s teaching and research philosophy. It proves that while the class sizes may be intimate, the output is industry-leading.

A legacy spanning generations

The conference served as a meeting point for Rhodes University alumni to reconnect with the "deep time" of their alma mater. Alongside the modern academics stood Mr Robin Baxter-Brown, a 1955 graduate. At 90 years old, the legendary explorer remains active in the field. He is best known for discovering the lower Orange River diamond fields in the 1960s.

The presence of alumni like Baxter-Brown, alongside leaders like Professor Wolfgang Maier (PhD 1991) and Dr Chris Hatton (BSc & Honours 1974), illustrates a 120-year thread of influence running through the South African mining and scientific landscape.

True to the university’s goal of producing research with local relevance, the department also showcased its work on the Nqweba meteorite. This celestial object fell near Kirkwood in the Eastern Cape in 2024. Dr Deon van Niekerk and his colleagues presented findings on this local event, grounding global science in the university’s own backyard.

Capturing history

As the Department of Geology concludes its 120th year, it is not just looking back. It is ensuring this history is preserved. Professor Prevec is currently compiling a book in commemoration of this 120-year legacy. The project aims to capture the stories, the science, and the people who have built the department from its establishment under Professor E.L. Schwarz in 1905 to the research powerhouse it is today.

The department stands as a true reflection of the Rhodes University spirit. It shows a commitment to punching above its weight, a dedication to research excellence, and a refusal to let size dictate impact.

"We look forward to celebrating our 200-year anniversary in the year 2105," Professor Prevec jokes.

Given the bedrock laid over the last century, there is little doubt they will be there to see it.