About Me

Becoming a palaeontologist is the dream of just about every child at some point in their lives. But what if you could have made that dream a reality?

Let me introduce myself…

I’m Sally.

Woman, Sally Hurst, standing in front of whale skeleton in Australian Museum

Growing up on a farm where the closest city was over an hour away made the road to STEM careers and becoming a palaeontologist a little difficult. So, after finding my passion for the past through my work experience at the National Dinosaur Museum in Canberra, I moved to Sydney to find a university where I could indeed study dinosaurs.

I completed my Bachelors at Macquarie University in Palaeobiology, and Ancient Egyptian Archaeology, and recently finished my Masters of Research in Science. While learning about the past has been a highlight, my favourite job is being able to get others just as excited about science and palaeontology, this encouraged through my role as a science communicator at the Australian Museum, and as a mentor for young rural girls through various scholarship and coaching programs. I would love to become the passionate role model in STEM for other young girls that I never had growing up.

It’s been a journey…

Farm & Rural living

Sometimes, it’s tough to imagine yourself doing something when you can’t see anyone doing it.

My primary school had a total of 65 children. Of the 9 people in my Year 6 class, I was only one of two girls. We had three classrooms in total, and never had science-related classes.

When I got to high school, we didn’t have enough people to run the Earth & Environmental course I was interested in. I ended up doing a generic senior science class that had a total of 6 people in it.

Growing up on a farm near Gunning, NSW, fostered my love for animals, the outdoors, and adventure. With a mother who had travelled the world and a sister who started her own business at 18, I was lucky enough to be backed by these powerful women who supported my journey into palaeontology, archaeology, and the work I do now.

Growing up in an area where there weren’t many role models in higher education, STEM or the fields that I was interested in has meant that becoming that role model for others, especially young women and girls from rural areas, has become a passion of mine.

School class photo from Gunning Public School, NSW, Australia
Small child, Sally Hurst, hanging on a rope swing
Woman, Sally Hurst, standing in creek bed in rural Australia
Four women, including Sally Hurst, with four dogs smiling in a paddock in rural NSW, Australia
Small child, Sally Hurst, smiling at camera and hugging donkey
Small Child, Sally Hurst, in school uniformstanding in paddock in rural Australia

  • 2022 - Present

    Superstars of STEM is a program that aims to smash gender stereotypes by raising the public profile of female scientists across Australia. I was one of 60 women selected for this competitive role that aims to tackle gender inequity by committing to becoming a visible expert and role model in STEM.

    This program involves media and presentation training, and involves connecting with schools around the country to showcase the amazing opportunities available in STEM.

  • 2022 - Present

    Created as part of my Master of Research, the Found a Fossil project provides guidelines and information surrounding what to do and who to contact if you ever discover a fossil, or an Indigneous artefact. Check it out at www.foundafossil.com.

  • 2018 - Present

    There are not many jobs in the world where I would be able to combine my loves of ancient history and archaeology, and palaeontology and things like dinosaurs!

    This position has fostered my love for science communication and community engagement. This role allows me to teach students and public audiences of all ages, from teachers, public audiences of children, high school students, and parents, to scientists, CEOs, donors, etc. and interact with people from many fields and disciplines, both within the museum, and in regional/rural contexts.

    This role has included creating a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive atmosphere during tours, classroom/teaching programs, and talks, anticipating questions. I’ve also been able to take charge of creating and communicating content, and delivering educational, inquiry-based programs in an accessible, fun, and passionate manner.

  • 2018 - Present

    Mumbai, Vancouver, London, Bangkok, Philippines! What do all these places have in common? I’ve talked to classrooms from all these cities and countries around the world, answering all their questions about dinosaurs, ancient Egyptians, archaeology and more! Each lesson includes a custom-made, inquiry-based presentation, opportunities to submit questions, and an open Q & A session!

  • 2018 - Present

    My work with Macquarie has inspired my passion for promoting pathways into higher education, especially for students and people from a rural background. Coming from a rural background myself, I see the importance of visible role models, and accessible information.

    Being able to share my journey to university and into a career in STEM through my roles in the Future Students team, both as a Student Ambassador, and as an Enquiries Representative, has hopefully allowed others to see the possibilities and opportunities out there for themselves. This role has honed my excellent presentation, public speaking and communication skills, allowing me to have meaningful interactions with stakeholders, such as representatives from industry, careers advisors and teachers, academics, and high-school students from many different backgrounds and delivering timely and accurate information, and being understanding and knowledgeable of the issues facing schools.

    The events my team are involved in often require working and adapting to high-stress and busy environments to connect with audiences through small and large-scale presentations, lectures, interviews, careers events, etc., requireing me to think quickly and adapt to different situations, locations, enquiries, topics, and tasks during interactions with stakeholders, and anticipate and answer questions and concerns.

  • 2020 - Present

    As someone who grew up in a very small town with very few role models actively in higher education or STEM, being a coach and mentor for high school girls was a great chance for me to give back and try to be a role model for rural girls that I’d wished for growing up. Through HMEF, I’ve been matched with 5 incredible girls from rural areas or facing financial strain but are very high performing academically. As their coach, I help them to navigate possible future career paths and share my experience coming from a rural area.

  • 2014 - 2020

    Name a better place to do Year 10 work experience. I’ll wait.

    The job that kindled my passion for palaeontology - ultimately leading me to pursue this as a career.

    Starting here as a fresh little Year 10 high school student on work experience, and getting hired at the end of the week was not a bad first job to have. I soon started leading tours of early childhood, primary and high school students, and the general public. From birthday parties to adults night tours, my dinosaur knowledge quickly expanded to have content for every audience and occasion. As the museum is a small business, our team was diverse, and roles were shared, thus enabling me to create and manage our social media presence for two years of my time there, and getting to dip my toe into exhibition design, research for new signage, staff tour training, and event management.

Professional Experience

Education

  • 2021-2022 Macquarie University

    As part of my Master of Research, I created the Found a Fossil project – a self-designed web portal with resources and learning materials for heritage finds. This interdisciplinary project included the creation and translation of complex information/resources into accessible language to be understood by non-scientific or non-specialist audiences, both in-person, over the phone, and in written communication . It also included conducting efficient and comprehensive data collection and research across a wide variety of fields and resources, and developing a reputation for being a reliable source, well-spoken, easy to understand, and engaging.

  • 2017-2020 Macquarie University

    This double degree allowed me to combine my passions for the past, enabling me to study both fossils, and ancient civilisations. With classes ranging from Egyptian Hieroglyphs, lab and field methods in archaeology, human evolution, and tourism and heritage, to courses covering dinosaurs, mass extinctions, and the diversity of life on earth, this degree gave me the best of both worlds and a complimentary suite of knowledge and skills suited to any occasion (especially trivia nights).

  • A list that will likely become endless, these are a few courses and topics I’ve been able to explore:

    - Archaeological Drawing Course

    - Maritime Archaeology

    - Zooarchaeology

    - Designing Effective Communication

    - Dino101: Dinosaur Palaeobiology

Media Experience

  • Australian Science Media Centre with Science & Technology Australia’s Superstars of STEM

    Media Training with Happiness Concierge & TEDx Kings Park

    Media for Scientists Masterclass course, Science in Public

    Designing Effective Science Communication course, Univeristy of Colorado

    Research Communications course, Macquarie University

  • Talking to a public audience through radio interviews, news articles, and podcasts has been a great way for me to reach a wider audience! Check out my media experiences here.

St. Marks Primary School, Drummoyne
Skype a Scientist
Australian Archaeology Association Conference
Dinosaur Festival, Australian Museum
Project Magnify, Powerhouse Museum
Women in STEM Symposium, Australian National Maritime Museum
Swimming with lemon sharks, Maldives
Sydney Comedy Festival, Enmore Theatre
Macquarie Univeristy Open Day Streamed
ABC Radio Pilbara
Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
Bachelor of Arts & Science Graduation

People Call Me…

  • Mentor

    Being a rural kid with very few role models has meant that I’m very keen to give back and become a visible role models for other kids around Australia. Through my work with the Harding Miller Education Foundation, Curious Minds, and Macquarie Univeristy, I’ve been able to become a mentor and guide for students from rural areas, helping to find pathways to STEM and higher education.

  • Educator

    I engage with students and classes from all around the world to make science fun and relatable. From answering every conceivable dinosaur question from primary schools in India, Thailand, or Canada, to running biology workshops at schools, museums, or botanic gardens in Australia, showing people how cool science can be is a huge passion on mine.

  • Diver

    Swimming with sharks, diving with whales, exploring the underwater world on a single breath. Through scuba and freediving, I’ve fostered my love for the ocean and its incredible creatures. It’s an immense privilege to have close interactions with these environments and animals, and I’m a passionate advocate for their conservation and protection.

  • Researcher

    What would Australian’s do if they discovered a fossil? What about an Aboriginal artefact? Why do some dinosaurs head-butt each other? What can we learn from the Ancient Egyptians? How can we best communicate heritage legislation to the community?

    Finding connections across disciplines, from palaeontology, archaeology, science communication, and education, is my forte, and can show us stories and findings that we’ve neber before considered.

  • Traveller

    Surfing in the Maldives. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda. Digging up dinosaurs in Canada. Exploring tombs in Egypt.

    I have been hugely privilaged to be able to travel across the world to 25+ countries, both for my research and study, and for my own adventures. These experiences have contributed to my love of animals, environments, history and cultures around the world, and inform my knowledge brought to the programs I create.

  • Science Communicator

    From presenting to classes in museums or schools, to speaking at international conferences, to (undoubtably my proudest moment) being invited to speak at Sydney Comedy Festival, chatting to the public about my resarch, my adventures, and my science is my favourite part of the job.

  • Student

    After completing my Bachelor of Arts (Ancient Egypt) and Bachelor of Science (Palaeobiology) at Macquarie University, I decided I wasn’t quite finished with studying, so enrolled into a Master of Research (Natural Sciences). While I’ve now completed my masters, I have an eternal love of learning and am constantly looking out for the next course to study!