The core of our Team are the main Organisers of Yorkshire Fossil Festival (YFF: 2014-2024). During their amazing work bringing Earth Science to the people of Yorkshire, they have shown a proven track record in providing world renowned speakers, innovative interactive activities, slick event logistics and engaging school day edutainment.
We have also worked closely with Lyme Regis Fossil Festival (the largest in the UK) and over the years have brought together an expert team to broaden our horizons into developing Earth Science Outreach UK as a growing and thriving charity.
While we appreciate our expertise so far has mainly been focused on Geology and Palaeontology, one of our first steps as a Registered Charity will be to broaden our team to include Meteorologists, Oceanographers, Space Scientists and Environmental Scientists. Here is the team so far:
Steve Cousins – Founder Trustee
Director Let’s Circus & Yorkshire Fossil Festival
Steve has a 25 year career of public engagement spanning science, the creative industries and youth leadership, Steve is an advocate for creating transformative participatory activities. His commitment to developing Earth Science engagement is via live, public events in non traditional ways.
Dr. Liam Herringshaw – Founder Trustee
Director Yorkshire Fossil Festival
Liam is a freelance Earth Science public engagement professional, working with schools, museums, universities, and professional societies. He has a PhD in palaeontology and is a former lecturer at the University of Hull, having worked in universities in England, Scotland, and Canada.
Liam is programme secretary of the Rotunda Geology Group, and an active member of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society and the Palaeontological Association.
Dr. Peter King – Founder Trustee
Earth Science Educator – Online Teacher
Pete is an online Earth Science Teacher with a PhD in Philosophy and an MSc in Petroleum Geophysics, with several years previous experience working internationally in the Oil Industry.
He also has many years previous experience as the CEO of a CIO: Performers Without Borders (PWB). Peter was respnsible for upgrading PWB from a charity to a CIO and successfully managed the finances, marketing, governance, child safety and MEARL (PWB Impact Reports).
Sally Hollingworth – Trustee
Sally is an amateur palaeontologist and community builder. She is known for making palaeontology digs for students in order to give people professional experience in fossil digs. One of her discoveries rewrote the history books when it proved that neanderthals cohabited during the ice age 214,000 in the UK.
She is also the star of a BBC documentary with Sir David Attenborough about her part in the amazing mammoth find at Cerney Wick in the Cotswolds. She has organised over 100 early career scientists and citizen scientists adding to professional realm of science.
Dr Fiona Gill – Trustee
Fiona is Vice-President of the Palaeontological Association (PalAss) and is a Lecturer at the School of Earth and Environment at the University of Leeds. She specialises in the chemistry of fossils and their modern equivalents and is especially interested in cold seeps, coprolites and plants.
Richard Forrest – Trustee
Richard us a renowned amateur scientists with many published articles on marine reptiles of the mesozoic. He is Chair of the Northampton Geological Society and the Peterborough Palaeontological Society and has organised international conferences in Lyme Regis.
He was also the focus of an article on fossil hunting in the Guardian. He has supervised the excavation of several marine reptiles, and has a reputation for preparing fossils which only an idiot would tackle.
Rose Want – Trustee
Rose is an enthusiastic Earth Science and MSc Science Communication graduate, currently working in public engagement for the British Geological Survey based at the Natural History Museum. She has a passion for the natural world which she hopes to share with others, both to educate and inspire.
Holly Turner – Trustee
Holly is a qualified teacher, science lead and computer scientist who has always used her enthusiasm for the world around us to plan whole curriculums based around the natural environment.
She has used her educational positions to promote women in STEM, organising and taking part in activities encouraging young girls to be excited and enthused in a subject that isn’t always promoted to them.
Her experience in the education sector and technological world will allow her to bring the magic of the history of our world to life in a variety of ways
Professor Chris Jackson – Patron
Chris is a vulcanologist, seismologist and BBC Presenter. he is also an advocate and role model for BAME scientists. Chris has agreed to help develop our Charity and communicate our aims to the wider public.
