Anthonie HELLEMOND

My main focus is aimed towards earth-sciences in general and paleontology in particular. I always find it exciting to work close to home within a Belgian context or framework. I'm highly involved in the study of the Belgian Palaeozoic, in particular the Devonian and Carboniferous faunas and floras of the Ardennes and surrounding regions. I consider myself an eternal student of the Belgian underground. You will find me equally fascinated by structural geology, sedimentology, paleo-climatology, paleobotany, stratigraphy, and geochemistry, as well as preparation and conservation techniques. Using fossils as a tool to reconstruct paleo-environments and utilize them as direct or indirect proxies to measure signals from deep-time.

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Belgian paleontology and earth-sciences carry a long and historical research tradition. Often professional and non-professional researchers worked toghether in several fields over many decades, but sadly non-professional researchers have been greatly undervalued during the proces. This is why I specifically dedicate a large part of my efforts to valorise, support and lobby for the acceptance of citizen science research in academia and with policy makers. I also support the open source and free availability of research papers, data and publications within my field. I try to outreach my findings through various fora such as: exhibits, lectures, practical courses, fieldschool, guided visits and digs, popular-scienctific articles and other educational initiatives.

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