Christian Rural and Environmental Studies (CRES) OPEN DAY

Christian Rural & Environmental Studies is a two year part-time Certificate course providing an opportunity to study rural and environmental issues from a Christian viewpoint. It is distance learning with a local tutor for each student and is based at Ripon College Cuddesdon.

CRES is offering a free Open day on Saturday 12th March 2011 at Ripon College Cuddesdon nr. Oxford on Saturday 12th March 2010 (10.00 am to 4.00 pm). The day is intended to be an introduction to the CRES course and give a flavour of our regular study days. There will also be a chance to meet tutors and the course director.


The Keynote speaker is Lizzie Rushton who will speak on ‘Climate Reconstruction using Missionary sources’. Ever wondered how you might work out the past climate in regions where there are no temperature or rainfall records? Well one way is to look at the written records of people who lived there at the time. Christian missionaries kept very detailed records. Lizzie will talk about her own work in Belize and also consider British Missionary accounts from Mexico and Africa, and New Zealand. The missionaries underlying theology may have impacted upon their beliefs, and also what they wrote about the weather and the environment. Should be a fascinating talk!

The day will be FREE (including lunch) but you must BOOK. Do invite anyone who might be interested in the CRES course, or might be interested in Lizzie's work. Spaces are limited and we will take bookings on a first come, first served basis. Full details of the programme will be emailed out to all those who book at the beginning of March. Cuddesdon have specifically asked me to give them numbers by the end of February. So the deadline is Monday 28th FEBRUARY. Please Reply to Martin Hodson on martin@hodsons.org or via the JRI Office.


For further information about CRES: http://www.cres.org.uk/