An Introduction to Dinosaurs

An Introduction to Dinosaurs
a.k.a. how we know what we think we know about Dinosaurs

Our understanding of dinosaurs has changed enormously over the last 30 years. In the past, scientists could only make educated guesses based on a small number of fossils, which left huge gaps in the fossil record.

Today, new fossil discoveries and modern technology allow researchers to test their ideas and build a much clearer picture of how dinosaurs looked, moved, behaved and evolved. Fossils of feathers, eggs and even traces of soft tissues have revealed surprising new details, showing that dinosaurs were far more diverse and fascinating than once thought.

In this introductory module, you'll explore how new discoveries and scientific techniques help us understand the lives of dinosaurs millions of years after they disappeared.

The Geological Society Night School offers an engaging way to explore geoscience through live, expert-led online sessions designed for curious and enquiring minds. The courses provide an opportunity to discover a wide range of topics within geoscience, in a format that is welcoming, flexible, and accessible. Whether your interest lies in dinosaurs, volcanoes, space, or the history of geology, each session is designed to spark curiosity and build understanding in an enjoyable and approachable way.

These evening sessions introduce geoscience topics in a clear and informal style, making it easy for anyone to take part and engage. You do not need any previous knowledge to join. Whether you are discovering geoscience for the first time or returning to a long-held interest, Night School offers a welcoming space to learn, ask questions, and explore new ideas.

For more information on Night School, including other courses that are taking place, click here.

This session will take place on Wednesday 21 October 2026, at 17:30 (BST) via Zoom. The module will approximately finish at 19:30.

Joining details will be sent out a few days before the session begins.

Please note this is a live session and therefore a recording will not be made available.

Professor Michael Benton OBE

University of Bristol

Michael Benton is a palaeontologist who studies dinosaurs and mass extinctions. One of his great discoveries was to kick off a new field of research in determining the colour of dinosaurs. He was awarded an OBE in 2021 for his work in the public understanding of science and was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 2014 for his fundamental contributions to understanding the history of life. He is fascinated by the transformation of palaeobiology from a speculative subject to testable science and led one of these discoveries – how to determine the colour of dinosaurs, rated as one of the top scientific discoveries of the 2010s. He has supervised more than 70 PhD students, and was founder of the Bristol MSc in Palaeobiology, which has welcomed 450 students since its foundation. He has written some 600 scientific papers and more than 50 books on a broad range of palaeontological topics, from textbooks to pop sci. His books include textbooks in palaeobiology, as well all the latest science in Dinosaurs Rediscovered (Thames & Hudson, 2020), how we know exactly what some dinosaurs looked like, The Dinosaurs: New Visions of a Lost World (Thames & Hudson, 2021), and mass extinctions, in Extinctions: How Live Survives, Adapts and Evolves (Thames & Hudson, 2023).

Standard £25

Concession* £15

*The concession rate is available students, teachers, or retired individuals. Proof of concessionary status should be provided upon request.