What is the GeoBus?
Find out more about the GeoBus, how much it costs, how it will work with your school and how it started.
How did the GeoBus start?
GeoBus was originally developed by the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of St Andrews in January 2012
Due to the success of the Scottish GeoBus, a London based project was written into the NERC Deep Volatiles grant application which was successfully funded in 2015. After an initial set-up period, GeoBus UCL launched on 16th September 2016 and has been inspiring students ever since.
How does it work?
GeoBus workshops are free interactive sessions featuring a GeoBus demonstrator live on screen (facilitated via a video call) and interactive activity kits are posted to you ahead of time. You don't need microphones or webcams to take part (unless you want too!).
The GeoBus activity kits vary depending on the workshop you wish to run but many include 3D glasses, 3D pictures and models to construct, and can be kept by the students or disposed of at the end of the workshops.
They also have the added advantage that we can run multiple workshops simultaneously with multiple classes or schools joining the same video call.
No, I'm afraid not. We now run all our school workshops virtually. This means that the workshops are run live via video call directly with your classroom(s)!
Yes! Our costs are covered by our fantastic sponsors which means we can be completely inclusive.
As we are a free resource we focus on visiting state schools.
We now run all our workshops virtually and so are available anywhere in the UK!
The UCL GeoBus isn't currently taking any new workshop requests whilst we design new content! Sign up to our mailing list to be the first to know when booking re-opens!
At present, yes, you can cancel your GeoBus booking without any penalty. In the future though, as bookings increase and spaces become limited, we may have to implement a minimum notice period for cancellations.
For health and safety, a member of school staff must be present at all times during the workshops.
Who sponsors the GeoBus?
These companies and organisations provide the main funding for the GeoBus, covering the majority of our running costs, for which we are very grateful.
Past Sponsors
Natural Environment Research Council provided funding for the GeoBus as part of the Deep Volatiles Programme.
Occasionally, we will apply for small grants to develop subject specific workshops or work with specialist organisations who provide expertise, which again, we are very grateful for.
