Bristol Dinosaur Project
The Bristol Dinosaur Project is a public engagement and educational initiative run by the University of Bristol. It began in 2000, and since then the Bristol Dinosaur Project team has visited hundreds of schools and spoken to tens of thousands of children, as well as appearing at science fairs in Bristol and elsewhere[1].
Background
The Bristol dinosaur, Thecodontosaurus antiquus, was named in 1834, and did not achieve much recognition locally, either at the time of discovery, in the 1830s, nor later, when it was restudied, in the 1870s, 1900s, or 1990s. The, after the re-examination of specimens collected in the 1830s, still located in Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery[2], and the collection of additional specimens from Tytherington quarry, in the 1970s, local palaeontologists and geologists realised there was potential to use the newly reinvigorated research programme as a means to include the public, especially local children, in the excitement of scientific discovery.
Funding
Initially, the Bristol Dinosaur Project was funded by the University of Bristol using widening participation funds. These were funds intended to reach out to local schools that did not have a reputation for sending many children to university. By sending students to visit those schools, it was hoped that children might be inspired, work hard, and then later apply to study at university.In the course of one year, an enthusiastic student was able to visit 200 schools and speak to some 10,000 children.
References
- ^ Benton, M. J. (2012). "The Bristol Dinosaur Project". Proceedings of the Geologists' Association. 123 (2): 210–225. doi:10.1016/j.pgeola.2011.07.004.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Benton, M. J. (2000). "Anatomy and systematics of the prosauropod dinosaur Thecodontosaurus antiquus from the Upper Triassic of southwest England". Journal of Vertebrate Palaeontology. 20 (1): 77–108. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2000)020[0077:AASOTP]2.0.CO;2.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help)
Benton, M. J. (2000). "Anatomy and systematics of the prosauropod dinosaur Thecodontosaurus antiquus from the Upper Triassic of southwest England". Journal of Vertebrate Palaeontology. 20 (1): 77–108. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2000)020[0077:AASOTP]2.0.CO;2. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
Benton, M. J. (2012). "The Bristol Dinosaur Project". Proceedings of the Geologists' Association. 123 (2): 210–225. doi:10.1016/j.pgeola.2011.07.004. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
External links
[1] Official website.