My research is focusing on community of large vertebrate called Megafauna living in Madagascar during the late quaternary period. This fauna includes horned crocodile, pygmy hippos, elephant birds and giant tortoises. I investigate the past environments in which these animals lived or “Palaeoenvironments””, and the preservation process of the bones or “fossilization”.
I conduct work in both the field and the laboratory. Each summer, I take part in palaeontological excavation teams to collect fossils of these megafauna as well as smaller animals and plants for study back in the lab. I really love this part of my work because everything depends on the materials we find. Sometimes, it is hard, you need to walk for a long time, climb hills, in hot weather and work hard digging in the earth which can be challenging as water can fill pits as fast as we can dig them. But, when you find fossils, all of your tiredness disappears, you find your treasure. Fieldwork time is a very special part of the job too, time to exchange ideas with palaeontologist colleagues, time together as friends and also, share our work with and learn from the local people.
The lab work is the serious work, because the laboratory is where you analyze the finds, develop questions and hypotheses, find answers, and you discover new information. Sometimes your predictions are wrong, sometimes right!
I am also responsible for our team’s collections, working with other students for the fossil organization and management.