I am a palaeontologist at the University of Cambridge. My department houses the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences, which holds the University research collections of rocks, minerals and fossils, including meteorites, Charles Darwin's geological material from his voyage on The Beagle, and of course our dinosaur skeletons!

As well as supporting teaching and research within the University, the Sedgwick Museum is an incredibly popular attraction for families and school groups, inspiring children's interest in science and the natural world.

The pandemic has substantially impacted both the museum sector and children's learning opportunities, and the Sedgwick Museum is desperate to welcome families back. To help the museum team develop new activities and materials to support and encourage family visitors to return, I am going to run the Cambridge Town and Gown 10km race on Saturday 16th October 2021, AND the Cambridge Half Marathon on Sunday 17th October, wearing an inflatable dinosaur costume!

All funds raised will support new resources for families to enjoy in the Museum, including books for our book trolley, and new boxes of rocks and fossils for visitors to handle.

Just walking in the costume, let alone running over 20km, is incredibly difficult, and I would really appreciate your support as I undertake this challenge. As well as being amusing for any kids watching, I hope that my efforts will improve the experience of our amazing museum for children and families, and ultimately inspire more children to engage with science!

(P.S. If you'll be in Cambridge on the 16th or 17th, please look out for me and give me a cheer! I should be easy to spot...)