Since palaeontologists have existed, there have also been palaeopoems!
Scientists so moved by the natural wonders they study that they’ve written poetry about it. Many of these poems have been obscured by history, and they’ve never been collected in one place (until now!). By searching books, letters, archives, and other unexpected sources, PalaeoPoems spanning over 100 years of palaeontological history have been compiled here for the first time, along with the stories of how they came to be.
Original artwork by volunteers accompanies each poem, to help bring them to life. Each guest artist creates a piece inspired by a poem, to further drive home the point that science and art are linked.
The research and work that goes in to PalaeoPoems has taken place on the traditional and unceded territories of the Algonquin Anishinabeg People, and more recently on Treaty 1 territory, the ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg and Ininíwak. Treaty 1 is also the unceded territories of the Dakota, and the homeland of the Métis Nation. We at PalaeoPoems recognize that we are guests on this land, and we make every effort to treat the land and its people with respect. This acknowledgement was facilitated through the work of Native-Land.ca and the Canadian Association of University Teachers.
Brigid holds a Bachelor's in Earth Sciences and a Master's in Biology from Carleton University. She founded the PalaeoPoems project after stumbling upon several poems during her research. Brigid currently manages the PalaeoPoems project, which includes finding the poems, preparing blog posts, and biographical research and writing.
Mike holds a Bachelor's in Palaeobiology from the University of Saskatchewan and a Master's in Earth Sciences from Carleton University. They've worked as a science writer for the University of Saskatchewan Museum of Natural Sciences, and is currently conducting a Ph.D. at the University of Manitoba. Mike is the science writer for the PalaeoPoems project.
Katrin has been with the PalaeoPoems project from the very beginning as both graphic designer and guest artist. She currently freelances as a graphic designer while running her own small business.
Alanna is a fossil preparator with a B.Sc. in Geology from the Jackson School of Geosciences. She is currently a preparator at the Mammoth Site, but on the side she lends her voice acting skills to the PalaeoPoems project. Most of the poems you can listen to on our blog were recited by her.
Christina is a website designer with a B.A. in archaeology from Brock University. She designed and provides consultation on the PalaeoPoems website.
Lucia is a Biology major at Middlebury College, and is currently researching the Great Auk for her senior thesis. She loves to read and write poetry, and plans to pursue Palaeobiology in her graduate studies. She is new to PalaeoPoems and is excited to help find poems and create social media posts.
