Dinosaurs are among the most popular fossil animals. But how much do we really know about them? And how can they be studied?

This year marks the 200-year anniversary since the first dinosaur, Megalosaurus, was formally named. Based on fossil bones found in a quarry only about 50 miles from Birmingham, this first scientific description of a dinosaur sparked a revolution in palaeontological research. Since then, extensive research on dinosaurs has created new knowledge about these fascinating animals.

'Bringing dinosaurs back to life: 200 years of research' is our new temporary exhibition that explores how science has changed our understanding of dinosaurs, how they looked like and how they may have lived.

Research by Birmingham palaeontologists (including work by undergraduate students) has substantially contributed to this wealth of knowledge.

The Lapworth Museum collections hold several original dinosaur fossils, including some of the dinosaur Iguanodon found in the south of the UK, which was the second species to be named just one year after Megalosaurus. Complemented by modern imaging and 3D printing technologies, and accurate life reconstructions, this exhibition showcases two centuries of dinosaur research.