Not every project that features dinosaurs or prehistoric life needs a palaeontology consultant. That may sound unusual coming from someone who works in this field, but it is true. Some productions benefit enormously from scientific input, while others gain very little. Knowing the difference helps you make sensible decisions, avoid unnecessary costs and bring in expertise only when it genuinely improves the work.
This article explains when expert input is needed, when it is not and how thoughtful scientific guidance can elevate a palaeo project for the better.
You have a palaeontology-related project and you need expert help. That is a great place to start, because bringing a consultant on board early can really improve the scientific accuracy and overall quality of your work. But after years of receiving consultancy enquiries, I have noticed that many people simply do not know how to approach a palaeontologist in a professional and straightforward way. Some emails make the whole process far more complicated than it needs to be, for both you and for me.
To make things easier, here are three common mistakes to avoid, along with what to do instead.
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Palaeontology Consultancy: Welcome to The Palaeo Minute your dinosaur dispatch from the Mesozoic frontier. In this edition, I take you behind-the-scenes of my consultancy work, exploring what the process involves and how scientific guidance shapes creative projects. It is an inside look at the research, decision‑making, and communication that bring prehistoric worlds to life.
Welcome to this third bonus edition of The Palaeo Minute. In this edition, I wanted to share my three core principles in science communication, how to grow, sustain and stand out in the world of science outreach.
This bonus edition explores:
Develop a Growth Strategy: Get the lowdown on how to create a growth strategy that will enable your project to flourish.
Use Your Skills Wisely: Discover how to pace your workload and make it manageable.
Connect with Science Communicators: Uncover how connections can lead to new points of view and project refinement.
Tyrannosaur Skulls & Evolution: Welcome to The Palaeo Minute your fossil dispatch from the Mesozoic frontier. In this edition I delve into the bone-crunching bite of tyrannosaurs, from their teeth to their skull adaptations. Get ready for the latest palaeobiology insights and jaw dropping discoveries, all packed into one mighty read.
Welcome to this second bonus edition of The Palaeo Minute. In this edition, I wanted to share how I would approach writing a new Jurassic World sequel, and why I believe the franchise would receive help from having a palaeontologist directly involved in the script writing process.
This bonus edition explores:
A New Opening: Explore how a sequel could begin with scientific mystery rather than the usual early‑film disaster.
Dinosaurs as Animals: Discover how natural behaviour, interspecies interactions, & sequences from the novels could improve a sequel film.
Scientists Who Shine: Discover why palaeontologists & researchers deserve to be written as capable, charismatic figures again.
A Fresh Direction: Learn how rooting the story in real science can restore awe, tension, & authenticity to the Jurassic World franchise.
From Fiction to Fossils: Mentorship in Motion: In this edition I reflect on the mentors, collaborators, and unexpected sources of inspiration that have shaped my path in palaeontology from research supervisors to consultants and creators behind the Jurassic Park films. Their guidance and creativity have played a defining role in my journey through both science and storytelling.
This edition explores:
Collaborating with Palaeontologists: Reflections on research & mentorship.
Jurassic Park’s Enduring Impact on Palaeontology: My encounters with Jurassic Park & Jurassic World cast & crew.
From Fiction to Fossils: How Jurassic World’s scientific evolution has shaped public understanding of palaeontology.
At the Feet of the Dinosaurs: Unearthing Ancient Secrets: This edition of The Palaeo Minute revisits the project that helped launch my palaeontology career, from fossil-rich bonebeds and storm-blown sediments to my first academic publication. Join me on a journey through prehistoric environments and the microscopic clues they left behind. I hope you enjoy unearthing Triassic insights in this edition.
This edition explores:
Palaeontology in Action: My research at the University of Bristol (2018–2020).
Behind-the-Scenes: Of my palaeontological internship, hands-on exploration & discovery.
A Geological Field Site: Like no other, the fascinating terrain I investigated.
This project, though rooted in past research, set the foundation for the skills crucial to my palaeontological journey, skills I honed during my transformative At the Feet of the Dinosaurs internship.
Crests, Calls & Cretaceous Kinships: This issue explores hadrosaur life beyond the bones. Dive into how these Cretaceous giants communicated, raised their young, and thrived together in mixed herds across the prehistoric world. I hope you enjoy the fascinating palaeontology content and discoveries in this edition.
This edition explores:
Meet the Hadrosaur Family: The Saurolophinae (non-crested) vs. Lambeosaurinae (crested) hadrosaurs.
How Hadrosaurs Communicated: Their social calls, signals & nesting behaviours.
Herd Life Revealed: The fossil evidence proving hadrosaurs thrived in social groups.
Dinosaur Parenting: Why hadrosaurs were devoted caregivers to their young.
Plumage & Legacy: Birds as Living Dinosaurs: Welcome to The Palaeo Minute, your bite-sized window into prehistoric wonders. This edition dives into how birds retain evolutionary and genetic advancements inherited from their dinosaur ancestors.
I explore the seven distinct types of bird feathers and examine how natural selection has shaped bird development for survival and feeding. From modern plumage to beak morphology, birds tell a remarkable story one that links their vibrant diversity to their prehistoric lineage.
I hope you enjoy this evolutionary journey into the origins of feathers, structures that first emerged not just for flight, but for insulation, communication, and display. Together, let’s uncover how birds are not merely descended from dinosaurs, they are dinosaurs, alive and thriving in our world today.
This edition explores:
Feather Types: The seven distinct types of bird feathers & their specialised functions.
Avian Success: Why birds thrive today, with over 11,000 species adapted to diverse habitats.
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