Join us for a hybrid Special lunch in April

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2026

JOIN US IN PERSON OR oNLINE

Talk Title: Quantifying Outcrops: Digital Methods in Contemporary Geoscience

Speaker: Brian S. Burnham, VRGeoscience Limited

Geological outcrops are routinely used for research and education purposes and are a key component of geoscientific training. Fundamentally, re-evaluation of outcrop observations and reproducibility of results is critical for scientific advancement. Accessibility to the field and outcrops, however, remain problematic for several technical and societal reasons. Since the turn of the 21st Century, a quiet revolution of geological field data collection practices, analysis, and visualisation has taken place. This talk will focus on the history of 3D outcrops, the necessity to digitally capture outcrops of all scales, and contemporary quantitative outcrop analysis and visualisation techniques that traditional methods would struggle to achieve. The important role that digitally captured and preserved outcrops play as milieus for increased accessibility and inclusivity, and for the promotion of scientific reproducibility across both academic and industry applications, is also discussed. Digital outcrops are more accessible than ever and complement traditional field methods that provide a powerful tool across academic and industry sectors, particularly in regions with limited outcrop accessibility.

Biography:

Brian is a geoscientist working at the intersection of Earth science and technology, with a particular focus on digital outcrop modelling (DOM) and analysis. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Geosciences and Arts and Technology from the University of Texas at Dallas, where he collaborated with geoscientists and digital artists to develop methods to analyse and visualise photorealistic 3D models of geological outcrops in immersive virtual environments. He later completed a PhD at the University of Manchester, conducting fieldwork across the United Kingdom and internationally, including South America and Spain, to build analytical tools to facilitate quantitative analysis of regional and basin scale sedimentary systems. Following his doctorate, Brian served as a Research Fellow at the University of Aberdeen before joining VRGeoscience Limited as a Senior Geoscientist, where he develops tools and analytical approaches to interpret and extract insight from digital outcrop data. Alongside his scientific work, Brian collaborates with artists and interdisciplinary researchers and advocates for open scientific practices and effective communication of scientific ideas through both technological and artistic approaches.

Download Abstract and Bio

Hybrid luncheon schedule:

• 11:15am: In-person check-in opens
• 11:30: Lunch service begins
• 12:00pm: Online event opens
• 12:15pm: Talk begins
• 1:00pm: Talk/Q&A session ends; Online event closes

Hybrid Luncheon costs:

• Member Lunch: $35
• Non-Member Lunch: $40
• Walk-in without Lunch: $15
• Member Online: $10
• Non-member Online: $20
• Student online: Free

Refund policy:

If you need to cancel an in-person lunch registration for any reason, you must do so by 4:00pm on the Thursday before the Wednesday luncheon. Refunds will not be available after 4:00pm on the Thursday before the luncheon. If you are unable to attend, your luncheon registration is transferable to another RMAG member, or if you are a non-member your registration is transferable to whomever you wish. Refunds will not be issued for online talk registrations.

Sponsorship Opportunities: 

Interested in supporting RMAG through the Luncheons? Sponsor the lunch, or run a specific advertisement during the slide show. 

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