Discovery The Life Scientific: Dean Lomax
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Jun 15, 2026 
Dean Lomax, British paleontologist and author best known for ichthyosaurs and the Rutland Sea Dragon, tells his story from school setbacks to headline-making finds. He talks about ichthyosaur biology and huge jaw fragments, rediscovering museum specimens, naming new species, TV science communication, biomimicry from soft tissues, and practical tips for spotting fossils and pursuing a science career.
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Teen Told To Give Up Dinosaurs
- Dean Lomax was told by a careers teacher to 'stop that nonsense and get a real job' when he said he wanted to be a palaeontologist.
- Undeterred, he kept collecting fossils, watching documentaries and visiting museums which cemented his lifelong passion.
Sold Star Wars To Fund Wyoming Dig
- At 18 Dean wrote to the Wyoming Dinosaur Center and secured a four-month volunteer placement despite lacking qualifications.
- He funded the trip by selling his Star Wars collection and immediately uncovered a large sauropod femur on day one.
A Label Correction Opened Museum Doors
- While volunteering Dean corrected a museum label (woolly mammoth vs woolly rhino) and that led to contact with curator Peter Robinson and access to the collection.
- That access exposed thousands of specimens and the ichthyosaur cast that launched his research.
