ASPIRING palaeontologist Emily Swaby is hoping to get her hands on some famous dinosaur bones when she makes the trip of a lifetime later this year.
Palaeontology student Emily, who is in her final year at the University of Portsmouth, has secured a spot as a month-long volunteer at the Wyoming Dinosaur Centre in Thermopolis.
The centre is perfectly placed for work at the nearby Morrison Formation, which is well known for being rich with famous dino bones.
Emily, 20, from Sandygate, Wath-on-Dearne, will have the chance to put into practice everything she has learned over her past three years of study, helping with events and exhibits, working with curators on the museum collections and in the prep lab, along with helping with guests.
The opportunity came about thanks to one of Emily’s friends, palaeontologist Dr Dean Lomax, who she met while on year ten work experience at Doncaster Museum.
Emily said: “Dean had been saying for quite a while I should do it. I thought about it and it seemed after graduating this July would be the perfect time. It means everything I have been studying I can now put into practice, and see what it is like actually out in the field. There is only so much you can learn in the classroom.
“The staff at the Dinosaur Centre have been so helpful and they will provide me with accommodation, which really helps.
“It is part of the Morrison Foundation group of rocks which is so rich in dinosaur fossils and is full of the bones of different dinosaurs. Hopefully I will get the chance to excavate some, which isn’t something you rarely get the chance to do on that scale in this country.
“The allosaurus is probably one of the more famous genus of dinosaur they have out there but there is also the more common brachiosaurus, the stegosaurus... all quite big, iconic dinosaurs.”
Emily’s trip is entirely self-funded, so she is currently trying to fundraise £1,000 to support her trip.
“I am going with the approach that I want to see as much as possible while I am there as it could be a once in a lifetime thing. Yellowstone National Park is nearby so I would love to see that too.
“My parents and friends have been very supportive. I am going with a friend from university, and my boyfriend and his family have been very kind in donating. I am so grateful to everyone who has donated so far.”
You can visit Emily’s fundraising page at: https://www.gofundme.com/my-volunteer-trip-to-wyoming-us
