Connecting with the community

11/16/23 • 29 min

In August 2023, Michael Mills travelled to various communities in Australia, to record multiple episodes of the Palaeo Jam podcast for National Science Week. One of the enduring conversations born of the tour was how a community might engage with its local fossil heritage, and

In this episode, recorded in Naracoorte, South Australia, in front of a live audience, we discuss a range of ideas of what local communities might do to better engage, and what the challenges and opportunities might be.

Do you know the fossil heritage of where you live? Do you have any ideas for better engaging your local community with that heritage? And even if you do, do you know how to go about doing something about it?

In the 15th episode of this season recorded for National Science week, host Michael Mills explores the possibilities with Site Manager, Naracoorte & Tantanoola Caves, Tom Short; University of Adelaide PhD candidate Nerita Turner; Site Interpreter at Naracoorte Caves National Park, Georgia Blows, and with an awesome appearance towards the end from Isla aged 9 and Quinny, aged 7.

Thanks to the Naracoorte Lucindale Council whose commitment to engaging with their community has helped make this project possible. You can find them on Facebook at... https://www.facebook.com/naracoortelucindalecouncil

And their website at https://www.naracoortelucindale.sa.gov.au/

You can find Palaeo Jam host Michael Mills on Twitter at @heapsgood https://twitter.com/Heapsgood

To connect with Dinosaur University on Facebook, follow us at https://www.facebook.com/DinosaurUniversity

We’ve recorded several episodes in Naracoorte across both seasons of Palaeo Jam. Subscribe now to listen to the rest, in which we chat about the fossils of the Caves while in the Caves. Here are direct links to 3 Naracoorte episodes.

“Professor Wells and the Chamber of Secrets” with Professor Rod Wells...

https://palaeojam.podbean.com/e/professor-wells-and-the-chamber-of-secrets/

“Caves- Ecosystems of the past, the present and the future” with Dr Elizabeth Reed...

https://palaeojam.podbean.com/e/caves-ecosystems-of-the-past-the-present-and-the-future/

“A Career in a Cave”, with Nicola Bail, Nerita Turner and Georgia Blows.

https://palaeojam.podbean.com/e/a-career-in-a-cave/

And their website at https://www.naracoortelucindale.sa.gov.au/

You can find Palaeo Jam host Michael Mills on Twitter at @heapsgood https://twitter.com/Heapsgood

To connect with Dinosaur University on Facebook, follow us at https://www.facebook.com/DinosaurUniversity

“Professor Wells and the Chamber of Secrets” with Professor Rod Wells...

https://palaeojam.podbean.com/e/professor-wells-and-the-chamber-of-secrets/

“Caves- Ecosystems of the past, the present and the future” with Dr Elizabeth Reed...

https://palaeojam.podbean.com/e/caves-ecosystems-of-the-past-the-present-and-the-future/

“A Career in a Cave”, with Nicola Bail, Nerita Turner and Georgia Blows.

https://palaeojam.podbean.com/e/a-career-in-a-cave/

Previous Episode

The Dinosaur Kids-Part 2

12 months ago, Palaeo Jam host Michael Mills chatted with three students from Flinders University in South Australia who had just completed the first year of a palaeontology degree, about their experiences in first year. In this episode of Palaeo Jam, Michael chats with the same three students... Dylan Slinn, Natalie Jackson and Thomas Khajeh... about their experiences in second year. Having finished for the year, and while waiting for their final results, we explore the challenges and the highlights of what was a very different year to first year. We find out how each of them are getting clarity in where they see themselves heading. We learn about what they have found matters for each of them in this important year in the journey.

And just as we got a commitment from all three at the end of last year to come together 12 months later, no matter what... Dylan, Natalie and Thomas have all made the same commitment to do it all again, same time, same place, in 2024. Bring on third year! And bring on what lies beyond!

You can find last year’s podcast episode, featuring Dylan, Natalie and Thomas on your preferred platform. You can also hear it here...

https://palaeojam.podbean.com/e/the-dinosaur-kids-part-1/

You can find Natalie at:

Tik Tok - @nataliemaree_art https://www.tiktok.com/search?q=nataliemaree_art

Twitter - @PalaeoNat https://twitter.com/PalaeoNat

Thomas’ sister, who he mentioned in season 1 is on Insta is at @thelostgirldraws https://www.instagram.com/thelostgirldraws/

Her etsy is at https://www.etsy.com/shop/LizzysStickerCo

Dylan Slinn can be found as Dylan Slinn on Facebook

Michael on Twitter at @HeapsGood https://twitter.com/Heapsgood

And Dinosaur University on Twitter at @DinosaurUni https://twitter.com/DinosaurUni

And Facebook at @DinosaurUniversity https://www.facebook.com/DinosaurUniversity

Next Episode

Theropods Down Under

The fossil record of Theropod dinosaurs in Australia is sparse, and our understanding of them is poor. In a recent publication of the first chapter of his PhD, PhD Candidate Jake Kotevski is on his way to changing that.

In this episode of Palaeo Jam, host Michael Mills chats with Jake about the recent identification of the oldest-known Megaraptorid skull fragment, found on an Eastern Victorian beach in Australia, nearly 20 years ago. What does this unique and important fragment tell us about Australian Theropods and their place in the world? In just one of the concepts they discuss, it supports the theory that Megaraptorids originated in Australia. Tune in for more!

To read the paper, “A megaraptorid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) frontal from the upper Strzelecki Group (Lower Cretaceous) of Victoria, Australia”, head to... https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195667123002975#sec7

You can find Jake on Twitter at @Dinoman_Jake

https://twitter.com/Dinoman_Jake

And on Instagram at @theropods_down_under

https://www.instagram.com/theropods_down_under/

The Evans EvoMorph Lab where Jake is based for his PhD is on Twitter at @EvansEvoMorph

https://twitter.com/evansevomorph

For information on visiting the Dinosaur Dreaming site mentioned in the podcast, head to...

https://www.visitgippsland.com.au/do-and-see/arts-culture-and-heritage/historical-towns-attractions/dinosaur-dreaming

And also Bunurong Coast Education at http://sgcs.org.au/programs.php

You can find Palaeo Jam host Michael Mills on Twitter at @heapsgood https://twitter.com/Heapsgood

To connect with Dinosaur University on Facebook, follow us at

https://www.facebook.com/DinosaurUniversity