Avocationalist Award
Great discoveries are made, and great things are done, by people who have no formal training in paleontology but who are passionate about ancient life, fossils, and the preservation of fossil sites. Whether it is donating a fossil collection to an institution, protecting and/or maintaining a site of paleontological importance, volunteering in fossil prep or outreach, or fundraising to build a fossil museum, avocational palaeontologists play a huge role in the Canadian palaeontology community.
The PD Division has created a new award to recognizes the role of avocational paleontology in Canada. This new, yet unnamed, award will recognize and celebrate the contributions of non-professional paleontologists to the field, helping to send the message that avocational palaeologists of are all ages are important and valued. The new Avocational Paleontologist Award will be the fourth award offered by the Division, along with the Billings Medal for Lifetime Achievement, the Pikaia Award for Early Career Researchers, and the Thomas E. Bolton Award for an exceptional student presentation at the Canadian Paleontology Conference (CPC). The awards will be offered in a three-year cycle, excepting the Bolton Award which will be awarded annually at CPC.
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On award years, nominations are taken in advance of the annual CPC conference. Include ‘Avocational Palaeontologist Award Nomination’ in the subject heading.
A complete nomination package should include the following:
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Information form on the candidate. (Form Provided)
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A Code of Conduct declaration form the nominee to declare are in good standing to receive the award. (Form Provided)
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TWO letters of recommendation (2-page max) from people who support the nomination. Digital files/images of separately signed nomination pages (e.g. in .pdf format) are acceptable.
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A brief biography (2-page max) describing the candidate's accomplishments in paleontology. Please ensure to talk about anything relevant to these points.
