Compiled by Dr Emma Nicholls, Deputy Keeper of Natural History at the Horniman Museum and Gardens.

What Should I Read?

Prolific author Darren Naish (of TetZoo) has pulled together a collection of exciting tetrapod-based scientific discoveries of 2018 in his latest article The Most Amazing TetZoo Themed Discoveries of 2018.

The government of New Zealand is under pressure to act on the trade of moa bones. This article is good food for thought re private sales of fossils; Moa for sale: trade in extinct birds’ bones threatens New Zealand’s history.

Of interest to many more of us than just curators, the top three most popular 2018 blogs posted on the Geological Curators’ Group website are:

1) Pyrite Oxidation: Where Are We Now? an excellent and informative article on the menace of pyrite decay

2) Up Inside Historic Dinosaurs about the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, and

3) Contradictions, Conundrums and Lies which looks at the issues we face in museums!

What Should I Do?

The International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology is taking place in Prague this year, from Sunday 21st to Thursday 25th July, at the Grandior Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic. The deadline for abstracts is the 1st February 2019.

If you’re anywhere in eastern Australia (sorry Perth) and, like me, are a big fan of Deadly 60, Steve Backshall is doing a Deadly 60 Live Onstage Tour throughout January.

The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation has opened an exhibition called The Art of Survival, to celebrate the life of David Shepherd who sadly passed away in 2017. The exhibition is of some of his ‘iconic, and rarely seen paintings’, and is on until the 31st January at Gladwell & Patterson’s gallery, in Knightsbridge.

Richard Butler, (relatively) newly appointed Professor of Palaeontology at the University of Birmingham, is delivering his inaugral lecture The Rise of Dinosaurs on Thursday 24th January, 5.30pm – 7pm, at the University.

Also in Birmingham, on the 20th February the Lapworth Museum of Geology will be hosting the Jurassic Marine Monsters – Family Fun Day. Open 10am – 5pm.

Finally, an exhibition I have been waiting my whole life to see has opened at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. Zuul: Life of an Armoured Dinosaur is set to be the highlight exhibition on a lot of people’s list! Open until the 20th May.

What Can I Apply For?

National Museums Scotland are looking for an Assistant Curator Earth Systems. The deadline is the 25th January 2019.

The Horniman Museum and Gardens is looking for one full time and two part-time Visitor Hosts, deadline 25th January 2019; and one part-time Learning Assistant, deadline 21st January 2019.

The Natural History Museum, London, has a few posts. Probably the most relevant are; UK Biodiversity Officer (Gardens), deadline 9am 23rd January 2019, and Head of Gardens Activities, deadline 9am 28th January 2019.

Leeds Museums and Galleries are looking for an Assistant Registrar, deadline 27th January 2019.

Royal Botanic Gardens Kew are advertising for a Digital Engagement Manager, deadline 20th January 2019; and Seasonal Visitor Hosts, deadline 23rd January 2019.

Before You Go…

If you have visited an exhibition/museum, have something to say about a current topic, or perhaps you want to tell us what you’ve been working on, please drop Emma an email at blog@natsca.org. Thanks!