Bristol Museums display wins Certificate of Excellence

The 'Making Waves: Mary Anning and her astonishing ichthyosaur' display at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery has been awarded the Certificate of Excellence for geological education by the Geologists' Association Curry Fund.  

The display features part of a large fossil skull of a type of ichthyosaur called a Temnodontosaurus which Mary Anning found on a beach in her hometown of Lyme Regis when she was 14 years old. Estimates suggest that the ichthyosaur would have been about 7m long when alive, but it appears to have been eaten by something even larger. 

Philip Walker, Head of Culture and Creative Industries, Bristol Museums, said: “We’re absolutely delighted that the Geologists’ Association has recognised our Mary Anning display and programme of learning events with this Certificate of Excellence. This brilliant display brings to life the story behind the remarkable ichthyosaur fossil and Mary’s pioneering role in understanding our past and it continues to inspire visitors of all ages.  

“It is fantastic to have the hard work of all those who created the display and have used it as a tool to educate others be recognised.” 

The display also features a range of fossils, manuscripts including a letter from Mary Anning, short educational films and a small model of the Mary Anning statue unveiled in Lyme Regis in 2022, loaned to Bristol Museums by the Geologists’ Association. The model depicts Mary striding across a rock surface covered with some of her most important discoveries, carrying an ammonite fossil, her geological hammer, and a basket. 

Since opening the display in January 2024, the Bristol Museums’ Learning Team developed an accompanying programme to bring it to life, including Key Stage 1 workshops, a Mary Anning fossil resource box for schools to borrow, four short films celebrating women in geosciences and a specially commissioned performance for families called Mary Anning & the Anning Knights.  

Deborah Hutchinson, Curator of Natural Sciences at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, said: “This display allows us to showcase an extraordinary fossil while helping visitors understand the science, the history, and the human curiosity behind Mary’s discovery. Seeing families, school groups and fossil enthusiasts engage so enthusiastically has been incredibly rewarding.” 

The 'Making Waves: Mary Anning and her astonishing ichthyosaur' display was made possible by donations from visitors to the museum, Bristol Museums Development Trust, The Friends of Bristol Museums and the Geologists’ Association Curry Fund grant.   

Visit the Making Waves display at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery.