Earlier this year, PetroStrat proudly sponsored The Etches Collection’s Inaugural Children’s Fossil Competition. The competition was open to young fossil collectors (ages 5 to 16 years old) from across the country and ran from 28th March to August 5, 2022 – during which time budding young palaeontologists were invited to enter with the chance to have their discoveries prominently displayed in The Etches Collection Museum for one year, by submitting a short paper or five minute presentation/video talking about their fossil, where they found it and why they think their discovery was worthy of a spot in the museum.
Today, we are delighted to share with you this year’s six winners and their amazing discoveries:
5-10 Age Group
Barracuda Jaw
submitted by Pip Melbourne-Thomson
(Hampshire)
Dactylioceras
submitted by Abigail Selvaratnam
(Middlesex)
Echinoid
submitted by Finn Bown Martin
(Dorset)
11-16 Age Group
Dactylioceras
submitted by George Madeley
(West Midlands)
Ichthyosaur Vertebra
submitted by Alexander Murray
(Dorset)
Heart Urchin
submitted by Amber Harris
(East Sussex)
Steve Etches commented “For the five months that the competition ran, it was a whirlwind of fun and excitement for us here at the museum. The competition really captured the imaginations of children and families alike. We had an extremely high quality of submissions, and I would like to thank everyone who entered and encourage them to carry on fossil hunting and learn as much as possible from the experience.”
John Gregory, PetroStrat Director, also on the judging panel for the competition, says:
“PetroStrat employs 52 professional palaeontologists and many of us started collecting fossils at an early age, for me it was nearly 50 years ago as a 9 year old. I was pleasantly surprised at the standard and especially the enthusiasm and knowledge showed by the children who submitted their fossils. This is a fantastic competition and it is great to be able to support Steve Etches and the Etches Museum in any way possible. The museum is a great resource and is somewhere that junior palaeontologists can learn more about our science and I’m sure the winners will be proud to see their fossils so prominently displayed.”
A big well done and thank you to everyone who entered the competition and congratulations to all winners, from all of us at PetroStrat.
If you happen to be in the county of Dorset in England, you can see the winning fossils in-person on display at the Etches Museum for the next 12 months (from early November 2022).
Video highlights of some of the fantastic entries
If you would like to see all the entry videos, check out this playlist on The Etches Collection YouTube channel.
