Mike Bowman retired from BP in March 2011. Mike is a geologist by training. He currently holds an Honorary Professorial Chair in Geology at the University of Manchester. Until late 2017 he was also Chair of Petroleum Engineering at Texas A&M University in Qatar. He has also lectured at a range of universities around the world from Princeton to Oxford and published widely on a range of geology and energy related topics. At his retirement from BP, he was Global Head of Geoscience, widely recognized both internally and externally as one of the industry’s most experienced and expert geologists, sought widely to advise business, government, and academia. In 2012 he was the President of the Geoscience Energy Society of Great Britain (formerly PESGB), an eminent group with a membership of over 5000. He is also an active Fellow of the Geological Society and was recently co-editor of the latest 8th volume of the prestigious Petroleum Geology of NW Europe. In addition to his academic roles at Qatar and Manchester, Mike is a senior advisor to Nuclear Waste Services UK on Deep Disposal of Radioactive waste; he is also an Independent Non-Executive Director for Capitaine Energy and a trustee for the Yorkshire Geological Society in the UK.

Mike joined BP as a geologist after completing a PhD at the University of Sheffield and lecturing at the University of Wales. During his 30 years with BP he was involved in a wide range of roles and jobs from specialist geologist to group level manager with postings to the United States and Aberdeen and extended periods working in Egypt, Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.

Mike is passionate about all aspects of geology and how they impact society today. He also advises and consults for a range of companies, teaching groups and investors as well as teaching external courses and giving lectures on a range of topics in Geology and the Energy Industry

Mike offers a series of illustrated talks covering the principles of Geology and understanding our earth as well as itinerary related geology topics and how geology impacts the world today.

Overall Theme – Colliding Continents & Disappearing Oceans – our Dynamic Earth – Geology, Down to Earth and the Geology of our Ports and Passages

A series of illustrated talks covering the principles of Geology and how it impacts the world today and then talks focussed on a subset of the Ports and the Itinerary of the Cruise in question; other titles can be developed if there is specific interest or demand.

Titles
Part 1 - General Introduction to Geology (not itinerary specific):

• Understanding the Earth - what our planet is all about - Geology, it’s history and fundamentals,
• Our Dynamic Earth: the earth’s structure, plate tectonics and the rock cycle
• The Present is the Key to the Past – or is it? The Science of Geology
• Rocks, Minerals and Gemstones – how they form and what they tell us
• Our Dynamic Earth – Continental Plates and Ocean margins – the Story of Plate Tectonics
• Fossils & Mass Extinctions: A History of Life through Geological Time
• The Importance of Geology to Environmental and Climate Change
• Geology & Man – History, Evolution, Resources & the Environment
• A Life in Geology - Travelling the globe, my life as a geologist where a hobby is your job and passion

Part 2 – Port & Itinerary Adapted and Linked to ports and areas visited

• The Geology of the Atlantic: Unzipping Continents – how the Atlantic was formed
• The Geology of Britain & the North Sea - from a Giant Continent to a Small Island –a puzzle unraveled
• The Geology of the Mediterranean - a Dust Bowl – an Ocean that disappeared and dried out
• The Mediterranean - Geological Impact on early History & Civilizations
• The Geology of Japan and the South Pacific - Ocean Trenches, Volcanoes, and Island Arcs
• The Geological Evolution of the Pacific Ocean – a history of a dynamic ocean and the ring of fire - when? what? why? How?
• The Geological Evolution of the Hawaiian Islands – ocean hot spots, mantle plumes and tropical volcanic islands
• The Geology of western North America and shaping a continent - how the Mountains Grew
• The Geology of the Canary Islands and Madeira - Ocean Hot Spots and Mantle Plumes
• The Geology of the Caribbean - Hot Spots, Volcanoes, Microplates & reefs
• The Geology of Iceland - hot spots & ocean ridges
• Iceland - Geological Impact on Culture and Recent History
• The Geology of the North Sea - a failed ocean
• The Geology of the Baltic & Scandinavia - ancient rocks and glaciation
• The Geology of Spitzbergen and the North Atlantic- ancient rocks and glaciation
• The Geology of Greenland - from ancient rocks to drifting continents, 4 billion years of earth’s history
• The Geology of North America – the shape of a continent

In addition, Mike gives talks on world energy and geopolitics - past events and future trends
Mike offers scenic commentaries during and is also willing to offer informal Q&A discussion sessions with guests on geology and the cruise if they would be of interest

Experience to date - Mediterranean, Scandinavia & Baltic, Canaries, and Iceland - talks adapted to cruise itinerary on each - Fred Olsen, Saga, Ambassador & Viking

Mike offers a series of illustrated talks and informal discussions covering the principles of Geology and understanding our earth as well as itinerary-related geology topics and how geology impacts the world today. Regarding possible Themes and Talks – this could be further developed and evolved to meet the specific needs of an itinerary: A series of illustrated talks covering the principles of Geology and how it impacts the world today and then talks on some of the Ports and Itinerary of the Cruise in question; other titles could be developed if there was specific interest/requests.

The following recent Cruise History has been recorded for this candidate.