Profile

Photo:

Jake

My CV

  • Education:

    Aireview Infants School, Hothfield Street Junior School, South Craven School and Sixth Form, University of Leeds, University of Bristol

  • Qualifications:

    GCSE’s: Geography, Art, Triple Science, Maths, English Language, English Literature, French and Citizenship Studies. A levels: Chemistry, Geography, English Language and General Studies. Degrees: BSc Geological Sciences and MSc Palaeobiology.

  • Work History:

    I’ve worked as a shop assistant, volunteered in a charity shop, and worked for the North Pennines AONB, where I spent my days showing people how exciting rocks are!

  • Current Job:

    Science Explainer

  • Location

    Brick Dinos

  • Size

    4m long

  • First displayed

    August 2020

  • About my Science Centre

    Life Science Centre 

    Life Science Centre is here to inspire everyone in North East England to explore and enjoy science and to discover its relevance to their own lives.

  • About Me:

    Hello! I’m Jake, a Science Explainer at Life Science Centre.

  • Read more

    Before I worked here I studied Geology (which is about the Earth and its history) and Palaeontology (a science about extinct creatures like dinosaurs). When I’m not at work, I enjoy finding new fossils for my collection, as well as reading, cooking, playing video games and board games, and spending time with my cat.

  • About the exhibit:

    Jake’s favourite exhibit is the LEGO® Masiakasaurus

  • Read more

    Dinosaurs and Lego, what’s not to love? Our newest exhibit, Brick Dinos, takes you on a journey to a prehistoric world to meet some of the largest and most fantastic animals that ever walked the Earth! You can come face-to-face with T. rex and Triceratops, alongside less well-known creatures like Masiakasaurus. Dinosaurs are fascinating in their own right, but learning about how they lived and why they went extinct can tell us a lot about living creatures, and the challenges they might face in a changing world.  

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JwaLuGIsWE&feature=youtu.be

     

  • Read more

    My days typically start with a cup of coffee and a short trip on the Metro, but from there no two days are ever the same. One of my favourite parts of what I do is loading up our van with boxes of fossils and driving to schools to teach people about dinosaurs. The best bit is the moment I reveal that the dinosaur whose leg the class just measured was longer than their school hall!

  • About the exhibit:

    Jake’s favourite exhibit is the LEGO® Masiakasaurus

  • What is this exhibit?:

    Meet Jake and Masiakasaurus in this video

    Masiakasaurus was a dinosaur that lived in Madagascar around 70 million years ago, and had a really unusual, curved jaw that helped it catch its prey. Despite being a cousin of the enormous T. rex, Masiakasaurus was only about as big as a dog (our model is actually twice the size of the real dinosaur!)

    You can meet Masiakasaurus, along with lots of other dinosaurs and extinct creatures, in our new Brick Dinos exhibit. Take a journey back in time to a prehistoric world, and come face-to-face with some of the largest and most fantastic animals that ever walked the Earth!

     

  • Why is this exhibit important?:

    Dinosaurs are fascinating in their own right, but learning about where they came from, how they lived and why they went extinct can tell us a lot about living creatures, and the challenges they might face in a changing world.  

  • Who’s representing this exhibit in I’m a Scientist?:

    I’m Jake, a Science Explainer at Life Science Centre. Before I worked here, I studied Geology (which is about the Earth and its history) and Palaeontology (a science about extinct creatures like dinosaurs). When I’m not at work, I enjoy finding new fossils for my collection, as well as reading, cooking, playing video games and board games, and spending time with my cat. 

    My favourite part of what I do here is visiting schools with a van full of fossils!

  • More information about this exhibit:

    Try out these dinosaur activities in class or at home.

    https://www.life.org.uk/im-a-scientist

     

  • My Interview

    • How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

      Reserved. Inquisitive. Geeky.

      What did you want to be after you left school?

      I always wanted to be a scientist, but wasn't sure what kind until I went to university.

      Were you ever in trouble at school?

      Not very often, but when I was it was for forgetting homework or my PE kit.

      What’s an interesting fact about this exhibit?

      Its full scientific name is Masiakasaurus knopfleri, it is named after Mark Knopfler, a guitarist in the band Dire Straits who grew up in Northumberland

      Who looks after it?

      Jake and the explainer team answer visitors' questions about these exhibits. Our team of technicians installed it and make sure the lighting and sounds create a prehistoric atmosphere

      Why should you vote for this exhibit?

      Dinosaurs and LEGO®, what’s not to love? 

Questions answered by Jake and Masiakasaurus

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