Where to see CQUniversity’s Dr Scott during Dinosaur Week
Dr Scott Hocknull is bringing Queensland’s prehistoric past to life this May, with a series of hands-on events and expert talks as part of Queensland Dinosaur Week.
Running from 4–10 May 2026, the inaugural celebration invites communities across the state to step back in time and explore one of the richest dinosaur regions in the world.
Queensland is home to most of Australia’s dinosaur fossil discoveries, and the week-long program connects visitors with the people and places behind those finds.
CQUniversity’s resident palaeontologist will feature in multiple events across Central and Outback Queensland, giving locals the chance to hear directly from someone uncovering the region’s ancient secrets.
From dinosaur hunting stories in Capricornia to deep dives into prehistoric ecosystems, Dr Scott’s sessions are designed to be engaging, accessible and grounded in real discovery.
He has two featured events, the first will be held in Mount Morgan on 4 May, Trilobites and Dinosaur Tracks - The BIG Palaeo Story of the Mt Morgan Region and this will take the audience through the deep-time prehistory of the Mt Morgan region, spanning more than 380 million years of Earth history, from ancient equatorial seas filled with trilobites and coral reefs to the formation of Gondwana and Australia’s journey north.
The second will be held on 10 May in Rockhampton, Queensland’s BIG Palaeo Stories - Dinosaur Hunting and Deep-Time in Capricornia, and this will take audiences on a journey through millions of years of history, sharing how fossils found in the region are reshaping what we know about Australia’s past.
Dr Scott will also headline a range of events across the week, including school programs, community talks and industry discussions, such as:
- Unearthing the Past, Powering the Future - An Exclusive Resource Centre of Excellence Dinosaur Week Event in Mackay
- Queensland: A Global Palaeo Conversation. An Industry breakfast with a panel including Dr Scott Hocknull, Dr Espen Knutsen and guest international palaeontologist, Dr Dean Lomax at Queensland Museum, Brisbane
Outback audiences can also tune in virtually, with select events streamed from the Eromanga Natural History Museum.
- Dino Day with Dr. Scott Exclusive School Education Program at Eromanga Natural History Museum
- Expert Insights with Dr Scott — Broadcast live at Eromanga Natural History Museum
Dr Scott said Dinosaur Week was about more than dinosaurs and fossils it was about connecting people to the stories beneath their feet and exciting them about their own palaeostories and possibilities in palaeotourism.
“Queensland has an incredible deep-time story to tell, and events like this give people the chance to see how those discoveries are made and why they matter,” he said.
“It’s about bringing science to life and showing that anyone can be part of that journey of discovery.”
Dr Scott’s position is a CQUniversity partnership co-funded with Capricorn Caves Geonature Conservation Foundation and the Eromanga Natural History Museum, where his work focuses on building new scientific discoveries, local knowledge, tourism opportunities and education pathways linked to palaeontology and palaeotourism.
Whether you’re a lifelong dinosaur enthusiast or just curious about Queensland’s ancient history, Dinosaur Week offers a rare chance to meet the experts, explore real discoveries and experience the state’s prehistoric past up close.
For event details and the full program, visit Dinosaur Experiences Australia.
