Dr Judyth Sassoon
Dr Judyth Sassoon is a palaeobiologist with broad-ranging teaching experience at pre-university, undergraduate, post-graduate and adult education level. She is affiliated with the University of Bristol Palaeobiology Group, specialising in research on pliosaurs, and has also worked for Ruskin Mill Trust as a Research Associate for seven years. Through this collaboration she plans to develop and extend both her palaeontological research and teaching, and to combine some of the work of Ruskin Mill Trust with that of The Etches Collection.
Scientific Research
The immediate aim of this collaboration is to study and offer a formal identification and description of the giant pliosaur skull excavated by Dr Steve Etches, MBE and his team, now displayed at The Etches Collection. Steve Etches with the pliosaur skull | Photo: theetchescollection.org This scientifically important specimen is probably the world’s most famous pliosaur fossil, following the BBC TV documentary, Attenborough and the Giant Sea Monster. It is an excellently preserved specimen, holding the Guinness World Record for ‘most complete pliosaurus skull’.
Ruskin Mill Trust
Ruskin Mill Trust is an educational charity inspired by the work of Rudolf Steiner, William Morris and John Ruskin. It applies traditional crafts and biodynamic farming methods to support young people with special educational needs. Founded by Aonghus Gordon OBE, Ruskin Mill Trust has 15 provisions across Britain and supports a Master’s degree and doctoral research in areas related to its charitable objectives.
This collaboration will allow the museum to develop its SEND education programme further and will give Ruskin Mill students an opportunity to learn about Earth’s natural history through handling fossils and experiencing geology firsthand. The Etches Collection is located in Kimmeridge, a World Heritage Site on Dorset’s Jurassic coast. This is an exceptional learning environment combining the distant past with local heritage in a beautiful natural setting.