Sam Scriven – Jurassic Coast Earth Science Manager

After graduation I moved back home and began volunteering in the county museum. Within a couple of months a vacancy popped up for an assistant warden at the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre. My volunteering helped me to get that job. From there, I moved to the Jurassic Coast team as an Earth Science Adviser. A few years later, I was then promoted to Earth Science Manager. Experience in public engagement has been at the core of my entire career.

I couldn’t have pursued my career without it. I think staying on to do the undergraduate masters (I wasn’t interested in specialising or doing research) was helpful as it gave me a slight edge over a bachelor’s degree, whilst expanding my knowledge of the subject and testing myself academically.

There is a lot to choose from, but probably getting to write a book which, as I answer these questions, is going to print. Right now, I am feeling both excited and nervous to find out what people think of it. Our remit as a team involves a great deal of public engagement and communication, and this new book is an official guide to the fossils of the Jurassic Coast and intended for a general audience.