Upcoming Events
Speaking Out
From interactive fossil workshops at schools, to speaking at international conferences, doing a comedy gig, giving a keynote at a leadership forumn, or even a zoom call with a class from London, I love public speaking in all of its forms. See what events I have coming up soon that you can catch me at!
Where I’m going…
Book Launch: Found a Fossil
Join palaeontologist Sally Hurst for the launch of Found a Fossil, a celebration of Australia’s dinosaurs, digs, and the real‑world discoveries that inspired the book.
Pint of Science: Found a Fossil Talk
Have a pint and learn about dinosaurs at this year’s Pint of Science!
Author Talk at Australian National Maritime Museum
Join archaeologist Sally Hurst and explore the stories behind fossils and heritage objects, and the importance of preserving them.
Megafauna Mayhem - School Holiday Workshop at Wentworth Point Library
Kids workshop at Wentworth Point Library - suitable for 8-14 year olds.
Space & Dinosaurs - Talk at Parramatta Library
Join palaeontologist Sally and astrophysicist Jack to explore the corners and history of the universe and our planet!
Drawing Australia's Deep Past: The Palaeoartists of Found a Fossil
What does it take to bring the past to life?
Join Palaeontologist Sally Hurst, author of Found a Fossil: Digs, Discoveries & Australia's Deep Past as she interviews four Palaeo Artists who bring the past to life through their incredible artworks of the ancient world.
Together, they’ll explore how fossils inspire art, how artists reconstruct long‑extinct creatures, and why visual storytelling is essential for sharing Australia’s deep past. Expect behind‑the‑scenes insights into their creative processes, discussions about scientific accuracy and imagination, and a lively panel conversation about bringing ancient Australia back to life.
The session includes a guided discussion, audience Q&A, and a closer look at selected artworks featured in Found a Fossil. Perfect for fossil fans, art lovers, educators, and anyone curious about how science and creativity meet.
Zoom link for online talk: https://macquarie.zoom.us/j/88406076580
Meet the Palaeoartists:
Nellie Pease is a Perth-based palaeoartist, scientific illustrator, and palaeontologist/archaeologist. She dabbles in sculpture, including making incredible models of creatures (like dinosaurs!) out of Easter egg foil. https://gondwanarama.com/
Ruairidh Duncan is a 'Whaleontologist' at Monash University, completing his PhD on fossil whales of Australia. He blends scientific research with detailed reconstructions (and the occasional hybrid creature) https://ruairidhduncan.artstation.com/
Ally Choi is a Korean-born tatto artist now based in Melbourne. She specialises in skeletal artworks of fossil creatures, from the Earth's earliest animals, to your favouite dinosaurs, and more recent megafauna. Check her out at @jurassic._.ally on Instagram.
Emil Herbert is currently doing their PhD in fossil sharks of the Cretaceous at the University of New England in Armidale. They love a travelling sketchbook, have some incredible art from digs in Mongolia, and blends bright colours with modern animal inspirations (@Emherbs98 on Instagram)
CAVEPS Conference
19th Conference on Australian Vertebrate Evolution, Palaeontology and Systematics (CAVEPS) will be held from 24th- 30th of November 2025 on Kaurna Yarta at Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia.
First Lego League Burnie Regional, TAS
I’ll be heading to Tasmania to talk about how we as archaeologists unearth the secrets of the past.
Mongolia Dinosaur Dig
I’ll be heading to Mongolia for the very first time to uncover new dinosaur fossils! The home of Velociraptor and Tarbosaurus, this dig will be one to remember.
Dinosaur Provincial Park - Fieldwork
I’ll be heading to Dinosaur Provincial Park in Canada for our annual fieldschool to look for new specimens and uncover new sites!
STEM Conference for Regional Girls
Empowering regional girls, and gender diverse people on the Mid North Coast by connecting them with STEM professionals, inspiring them to see themselves thriving in STEM fields in the future.
Excavating Egyptians to Digging Dinosaurs: How palaeontology and archaeology intersect
Discover the thrilling worlds of palaeontology and archaeology as experts come together to share their field adventures, uncovering both shared insights and key differences. Engage directly with them through live Q&A, and dive deep into these captivating sciences that reveal Earth's history.
![The Opalised Dinosaurs of Lightning Ridge [Online Talk]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63d8a50e5007b877e27d0032/1743892163308-9UOI9T60TDVHEVGGLGSO/Untitled+design+%287%29.png)
The Opalised Dinosaurs of Lightning Ridge [Online Talk]
Australia’s fossil history is beautifully preserved in opal at Lightning Ridge, NSW, home to an astonishing diversity of opalised fossil plants and animals including dinosaurs. Learn about these incredible remains, and how you too can join a dinosaur dig where the fossils are opalised!
![Dinosaur Debate: Arguing Australia's Greatest Archosaur [Online Talk]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63d8a50e5007b877e27d0032/1743892016422-5HE61HIES85PXJX17WDH/Untitled+design+%285%29.png)
Dinosaur Debate: Arguing Australia's Greatest Archosaur [Online Talk]
Join us for a lively debate as three palaeontologists argue which is the best Australian dinosaur (or pterosaur) and why!
We’ll each be choosing our favourite Australian species (that you may not have ever hear of!) and debating which would win in a fight, who would survive the longest, and which dinosaur should be brought back to life.
![Interview with a Palaeontologist [Online Talk]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63d8a50e5007b877e27d0032/1743891882048-5BI6OR81USSUI19OOXEN/Untitled+design+%284%29.png)
Interview with a Palaeontologist [Online Talk]
What question have you always wanted to ask a palaeontologist?
Join three Australian palaeontologists to talk about their pathways into the field, their favourite discoveries, and their newest research. Submit your burning questions and watch them answered live in this thrilling online event.
![Digging dinosaurs: Tales from the field [Online Talk]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63d8a50e5007b877e27d0032/1743891697632-MHXHZQM55WJ7I42W3686/Untitled+design+%283%29.png)
Digging dinosaurs: Tales from the field [Online Talk]
Join three Australian palaeontologists as they share incredible dinosaur dig sites across Australia and beyond! Discover the diversity of fossils and species—from opalised treasures in Lightning Ridge, to Winton's colossal dinosaurs, and the mighty tyrannosaurs of Canada’s Badlands.
Mega Creatures Exhibition at Hunter Valley Gardens
Come eye to eye with massive creatures from the past. See life-size T. rex’s, Triceratops, Stegosaurus and other dinosaurs. Mixing reality with fantasy, you’ll also see giant statues of creatures from mythology and legend from across the world.
Interpretation Australia Conference & Keynote
Sally Hurst and Stacey Thomson will be joining the Interpretation Australia’s 2024 Conference in Brisbane as our keynote speakers.
Mitchell Youth Leadership Forum
The Mitchell Youth Leadership Forum is a program for Year 11 students , and strongly based around the values of service to others, integrity and courage. I’ll be sharing my journey as a keynote speaker.
Astronomy Open Night
I’ll be presenting my Jurassic Comedy Show at Macquarie University’s Astronomy Open Night!
Community Science Night - Coffs Harbour
I’ll be sharing my palaentology research, as well as chatting about pathways to university on this Coffs Harbour Community Night!
Community Science Night - Grafton
Come and have all of your science questions answered! I’ll be there with my box of fossils to chat about my journey and research in palaeontology, and pathways to university!
Science in the Suburbs - MQ Uni
An unforgettable evening where science meets entertainment.
Join us for a night of discovery and delight at "Science in the Suburbs - Macquarie Park", an event supported by Macquarie University's Faculty of Science and Engineering.
Science in the Suburbs - Parramatta Comedy Gig
Join us in the pub for a night of scinece and comedy!
Rhodes Science Fair - Australian Science Week
I’ll be heading to Rhodes Science Fair to talk all about fossils! Interact with some REAL fossils, ask any dinosaur questions you may have, and hear a special comedy talk about the Found a Fossil project!
Fieldwork with the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum
My final week in Canada will be spent in different Canadian terrain, searching form more dinsaours in the North West of Alberta, near Grande Prairie.
Dinosaur Provincial Park Fieldwork, Alberta
I’ll be heading back to Canada to discover more dinsoaurs in Dinosaur Provincial Park.
Alberta, Canada Travels
Before embarking on several weeks of fieldwork, I’ll be making my way up and down the Canadian Rockies searching for adventures.
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Workshop
Working with a local landcare group, archaeologists, and Aboriginal community members, we;ll be delivering a series of talks and workshops to discuss finding Aboriginal Cultural Heritage of private land.
Western Australia Roadtrip
In April, I’ll be hitting the road to see orcas, blue whales, and jump in with manta rays and whalesharks on an epic adventure to see more of our beautiful country.
Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum Speaker Series
Tune in to hear all about The Found a Fossil Project: Discovering Dinosaurs and Protecting the Past in Australia.
Year 12 Leadership Forum
Each year, Macquarie University hosts Year 12 leaders from schools around the state. I’ll be delivering a keynote speech about how leadership can appear in unusual places.
Lightning Ridge Dinosaur Digging
Working with colleagues from the Australian Opal Centre, I’ll be assisting on a dig where we’ll hopefully be looking at opalised dinosaur fossils. During this time, I will also hopefully be visiting local schools to talk about palaeontology and careers in STEM.
Dinosaur Festival - Australian Museum
Life-sized dinosaurs roaming the halls, enormous skeletons and terrifying teeth, and of course, the famed T. rex Autopsy show! I’ll be donning my labcoat and getting messy - learning about how one of the Earth’s largest predators died, and lived!
