Celebrating 125 Years of Palaeo Research and Education at the University of Birmingham

As the University of Birmingham marks its 125th anniversary, we celebrate a legacy of research and education in the field of palaeontology. One of the first academics at the University in 1900 was Professor Charles Lapworth, a pioneering geologist and palaeontologist whose study of Palaeozoic fossils led to him defining a new geological period, the Ordovician, among other major contributions. Another important early palaeontologist at the University was Ethel Shakespear, who produced seminal work on fossil graptolites. 

Throughout the 20^th century, University academics such as Professor Russell Coope and Professor Tony Hallam used insights from the fossil record to make groundbreaking contributions to our understanding to past climates, environmental change and mass extinctions, as well as building internationally important collections from the Midlands and Welsh Borders, which today form the displays and collections of the Lapworth Museum of Geology.

Today, the University hosts one of the largest and most successful groups of palaeontologists in the UK, supported by state-of-the-art facilities. Our world-leading expertise ranges from using fossil marine plankton to reconstruct past climates to the diversity, biology and evolution of dinosaurs. Key recent discoveries include the oldest known vertebrate brains, a fossilised dinosaur embryo, the origins of flying reptiles, and a major new ‘highway’ of dinosaur footprints uncovered in Oxfordshire and announced in early 2025. A developing area of research is the sustainable and ethical use of Earth Heritage resources, such as fossils, including supporting research capacity in the Global South. The quality of Birmingham research has been recognised through the awards of major recent prizes.

In November 2025, the University will host one of the largest palaeontological conferences in the world, the Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. The choice of Birmingham to host this meeting reflects the highly international focus of the group, with excellent research collaborations and fieldwork in countries such as Brazil, China, Morocco, Argentina, the USA and Kyrgyzstan.

Education has always been a cornerstone of the University of Birmingham's mission. The Palaeontology and Geology BSc programme offers students a broad education in Earth Sciences with a focus on Palaeontology, combining fieldwork with scientific study of past life, environments and climates. Students are equipped with cutting-edge skills in modern palaeontology, including a unique opportunity to develop field skills as part of a field course in the western USA, museum skills such as fossil curation, exhibition design and public engagement, and participation in active research. Currently, our students are involved in the huge excavation of dinosaur footprints in Oxfordshire, which was extensively covered by media including a feature on BBC’s Digging for Britain.

A jewel in the crown of the University of Birmingham's cultural offering is the award-winning Lapworth Museum of Geology. Named after Charles Lapworth, the museum was founded in 1880. It houses one of the UK's most outstanding geological collections, showcasing both exceptional objects that span 3.5 billion years of Earth's history and cutting-edge research. The Museum's innovative galleries and educational programs inspire visitors of all ages, making it a vital resource for students, researchers, and the public.

Looking to the future, the University of Birmingham plans to continue to grow its international leadership in palaeontology, generating exciting and significant new fundamental insights into ecosystems and evolution and demonstrating the vital importance of the fossil record for understanding the past and future of biodiversity, climate and environments.