It was wonderful to welcome vertebrate palaeontologist Dr Natalia Jagielska to Everything Dinosaur recently. Natalia caught up with Sue from Everything Dinosaur and presented Mike and Sue with two beautiful illustrations inspired by prehistoric life.

A talented scientist and artist, Natalia graduated with a doctorate in Geosciences from the University of Edinburgh in 2024, specialising in vertebrate palaeontology. However, she is once again off on her travels.  Currently, Dr Jagielska is in China.  She will be back in the UK in a few weeks to take up a new role helping to support science outreach.

Sue from Everything Dinosaur with Dr Natalia Jagielska. They are holding the beautiful illustrations that Natalia presented to Mike and Sue. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Natalia also has a passion for science communication, illustration and the creative industries, contributing to museum projects and consulting on dinosaur-related television, games and toy ventures.  Her research uses some amazing and innovative techniques.  For example, Laser-Stimulated Fluorescence (LSF), to reveal previously hidden details of fossil anatomy.

She has worked on some incredible prehistoric animal fossils.  For instance, Natalia has studied pterosaurs and played a vital role in the analysis of the pterosaur fossil material that led to the naming of the large rhamphorhynchid Dearc sgiathanach.

To read more about the discovery of D. sgiathanach: Spectacular Pterosaur Fossil from the Isle of Skye.

Sue from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“It was lovely to catch up with Natalia. We are incredibly grateful for her beautiful illustrations. She is a wonderful ambassador for palaeontology, combining scientific expertise with artistic creativity. We always enjoy meeting talented young scientists who share our enthusiasm for prehistoric life.”

We would like to thank Natalia for her visit and thoughtful gifts. We wish her every success with her ongoing research and look forward to following her future discoveries!

For models of pterosaurs and other prehistoric animals: Models of Flying Reptiles and Other Prehistoric Animals.