AWARDS
The Halstead Award – The Geologists' Association (2022): Quoting the GA: "The award is given to an individual who has made a substantial contribution in any area of geology at an early stage in their career. Your nomination was based on your overwhelming enthusiasm for palaeontology and impressive record in outreach as well as in your field of expertise."
Honorary Lifetime Member Award – The Western Interior Paleontological Society (2021): This is the highest award WIPS can bestow. It was awarded for my substantial and noteworthy contributions to the science of palaeontology and for my outstanding service to the advancement of the purpose of the Society over an extended period of time.
Junior Chamber International – Top Ten Outstanding Young Persons in the World (JCI TOYP) (2018): JCI TOYP serves to formally recognize young people who excel in their chosen fields and create positive change. Past winners include the likes of Elvis Presley, JFK, Jackie Chan, Bill Clinton and Orson Welles. I was one of 20 finalists.
Junior Chamber International UK – Top Ten Outstanding Young Persons of 2017 (Scientific Development Award) (2017): Every year, JCI United Kingdom (JCI UK) searches for ten people in the UK who represent outstanding achievements of young leaders. I was given the award for my early-career contributions to palaeontology, having forged a successful career whilst essentially being self-taught (I had already written 25+ academic papers and three books before doing my PhD).
The Royal Society – Local Heroes Scheme (2016): The Royal Society selected 15 accredited museums and galleries from across the UK to receive funding for exhibitions and events that celebrate local science heroes and their discoveries. I was recognised as a 'Local Science Hero' for Doncaster. An exhibition [Dean R. Lomax – Making Dreams Reality] and a series of events highlighting my contributions to science took place in 2017. More here.
The Edward Forbes Prize – The Palaeontographical Society (2016): The Palaeontographical Society is the oldest Society in existence that is devoted specifically to the advancement of palaeontological knowledge. The Edward Forbes Prize aims to recognise outstanding contributions by early career researchers in the field of taxonomic and systematic palaeontology (i.e. how to classify species), and specifically for the study of fossils from the British Isles. I was awarded the prize for my scientific study describing a new species of ichthyosaur, Ichthyosaurus anningae, published in 2015 in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. The prize was awarded at London’s Natural History Museum by the president of the society, Prof. Paul Barrett.
Marsh Award for Palaeontology – Marsh Christian Trust & The Natural History Museum (2015): The purpose of the Marsh Award for Palaeontology is to recognise 'unsung heroes' – those who have made an outstanding or cumulative contribution to palaeontology in the UK, yet whose efforts have not necessarily been widely recognised. The award is presented annually and I am the youngest individual to receive this honour. The award was given for “the impressive number of publications that Dean has authored at such a young age, the tireless efforts he’s put into improving and recognising the importance of the palaeontology collection at Doncaster Museum and for his contribution to the public interpretation of dinosaurs in the United Kingdom”. Presented by the founder of the trust, Brian Marsh OBE.
SEAES Postgraduate Research Student Excellence Award (University of Manchester) – Best Contribution to Society for 2015 (2015): “For Dean’s simply outstanding contributions to science communication in the area of vertebrate palaeontology, notably evidenced by his lead role in the recent 2-part ITV series ‘Dinosaur Britain’ and for winning the Gold Medal First Prize in the Set for Britain 2015 competition”.
BIAZA Award – British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (2015): Working alongside the Yorkshire Wildlife Park's education department, I helped to develop an educational programme regarding Evolution & Inheritance for Yr 6 school students (ages 10-11). This combined evolution and palaeontology with a connection to living animals. The award was presented to the Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
Gold Medal (G. J. Mendel Award) – Set for Britain (2015):
Set for Britain is a prestigious event held each year in the Houses of Parliament, aimed at early career scientists. I was selected from hundreds of individuals to present my research (against 59 other candidates) regarding a new species of ichthyosaur which I had identified in the collections of Doncaster Museum & Art Gallery. I won the Biological and Biomedical Sciences category of the competition and was awarded the Gold Medal (Gregor Mendel Award) for excellence in science communication.