Ep.90 Thomas Clements | Communication secrets from the Cole Museum

How do you take a topic that is traditionally seen as "dusty and boring" and turn it into something that completely captures the public's imagination? In this episode, Dr Thomas Clements, lecturer of invertebrate zoology and deputy curator of the Cole Museum, takes us behind the scenes of their incredible collection and shares the fascinating realities of his research. We also explore the art of science communication, breaking down how to connect with different audiences and navigate modern marketing challenges, including the rise of "platform fatigue". Finally, we head to the south coast for some local adventure at Lyme Regis, where Thomas shares his brilliant insider tips on how to successfully find your own fossils. This episode is packed with valuable communication insights, actionable advice, and fascinating research extracts.     TIME CODES 00:00 Welcome 00:24 Cole Museum study room | recording location 01:24 What is the Cole Museum 02:50 How the Cole Museum is organised | How to view it when you visit 04:09 Highlights in the Cole Museum 04:59 How the Cole Museum is a snapshot in time and highlights environmental pressures on animals today 05:37 Maria's highlights in the Cole Museum 05:58 How the Cole Museum seeks to bring fossils to life with models 07:40 Preservation of colour in the fossil record 10:52 Reading Dino trail 2026 | Display case in Cole Museum 13:30 Thomas' research 15:54 Case study from Thomas' research | Octopus and Squid 16:43 How Thomas and scientists communicate their work 19:41 What are the general public interested in 21:53 Important lesson for young people 24:00 Challenges with communicating today 27:12 Common fossils 28:31 Tips for finding fossils 30:52 Can fossils be donated to your chosen museum? 31:49 Thomas' closing thoughts