Volunteer Spotlights

Get to know some of our amazing volunteers! If you know a volunteer that should be featured in a future volunteer spotlight (maybe it's you!), fill out the form below or contact us at alumni.volunteers@ualberta.ca.

Current Volunteer Spotlight

Dawson Barr (‘23 BSc Hon), a recent University of Alberta Paleontology Honours graduate, has been a committed volunteer with the University of Alberta Dinolab for the past few years. Alongside his volunteer work, he is actively working towards the next step in his academic journey by preparing his application for a Master's program in Paleontology.

Dawson’s work at the Dinolab involves the meticulous process of cleaning, reassembling, and preserving fossil specimens. The scale and complexity of these projects can vary greatly, with newer volunteers working on simpler specimens while the more complex projects are assigned to those with more experience. Dawson has worked on a variety of projects, from delicately preserved teeth to a metatarsal of a hadrosaur. He is currently working on a particularly challenging specimen, whose parts are scattered within a piece of rock. It’s like a "jigsaw puzzle on hard mode," requiring him to carefully free and track each piece.

"Cleaning fossils feels therapeutic," he shares. "Your hands are busy, and it’s a very calming process." For a dinosaur enthusiast, the privilege of handling these ancient bones in the unique, dry environment of the former Biological Sciences radio room is a special experience that often brings a sense of awe and wonder.  Dawson has been able to see a range of specimens, from the more common hadrosaurus pieces to a rare Dromaeosaurus. The specimens are often sent from different locations for the volunteer team to clean and maintain. 

Dawson is usually at the Dinolab around four days a week. His motivation is twofold: a deep love for paleontology and a desire to gain invaluable experience for his future Master's application. Volunteering there also provides transferable skills beneficial for his CV and future job prospects, which are great advantages for new grads. 

To new volunteers at the Dinolab, Dawson offers this advice: "Don’t be afraid to ask for help or if there is an easier way of doing things”, recalling a time when the head of the lab, Howard Gibbins, shared a more efficient technique for working with a particularly stubborn sandstone-encased fossil that made the job much easier. "It’s a really friendly collegiate environment," he emphasizes, and the community encourages newcomers to ask questions and engage with fellow volunteers.

In his spare time, Dawson also explores his creative side by building soundtracks for video games, translating his piano skills using a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). Just like the work in the Dinolab, his musical endeavors involve a lot of play and experimentation.

View past volunteer spotlights

Nominate a Volunteer for a Future Volunteer Spotlight

If you know a volunteer that should be featured in a future volunteer spotlight (maybe it's you!), fill out the form below and we will connect with you soon about next steps.


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The personal information requested on this form is collected under the authority of Section 33(c) of the Alberta Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and will be protected under Part 2 of that Act. It will be used for the purpose of volunteer management; alumni, donor engagement and philanthropic activities; and updating and maintaining alumni/donor records. Questions concerning the collection, use or disposal of this information should be directed to the FOIP Liaison Officer, Office of Advancement, University of Alberta, 3-501 Enterprise Square, 10230 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T5J 4P6, (780) 492-7400.