About Matthew Ellerbeck
Matthew Ellerbeck is a lifelong dinosaur enthusiast whose fascination began in early childhood. Some of his earliest memories involve playing with an extensive collection of toy dinosaurs, and arranging them across a large prehistoric landscape-mat that he treated as his own “ancient world.” Each new dinosaur earned a special place in this world, including a favorite plush green Triceratops that slept in his bed.
As a child, Matthew created “Dinosaur Display” signs and hung them on the doors of his home, imagining visitors would pay to see his exhibit (an idea that was humorously validated when one of his mother’s friends gave him $5.00). He frequently brought dinosaurs to school and was soon regarded by classmates and teachers as a resident dinosaur expert.
Matthew spent countless hours reading dinosaur books and watching films such as The Land Before Time and Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend, later followed by the Jurassic Park films. While watching Secret of the Lost Legend, he even had his Nana photograph the television whenever dinosaurs appeared, believing these images would prove he had seen a REAL dinosaur. The clarity of these memories underscores the deep significance, love, and lasting role that dinosaurs have played in Matthew's life.
As a child, Matthew created “Dinosaur Display” signs and hung them on the doors of his home, imagining visitors would pay to see his exhibit (an idea that was humorously validated when one of his mother’s friends gave him $5.00). He frequently brought dinosaurs to school and was soon regarded by classmates and teachers as a resident dinosaur expert.
Matthew spent countless hours reading dinosaur books and watching films such as The Land Before Time and Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend, later followed by the Jurassic Park films. While watching Secret of the Lost Legend, he even had his Nana photograph the television whenever dinosaurs appeared, believing these images would prove he had seen a REAL dinosaur. The clarity of these memories underscores the deep significance, love, and lasting role that dinosaurs have played in Matthew's life.
As he grew older, Matthew expanded his knowledge through educational programs including Walking With Dinosaurs and Planet Dinosaur. His passion for dinosaurs naturally evolved into an interest in modern reptiles, eventually leading him into outreach education and conservation work focused on reptile species.
Over the years, Matthew has delivered hundreds of workshops and presentations, including lectures at Queen’s University, Trent University, the Royal Botanical Gardens, St. Lawrence College, and King’s Town Private School. His outreach efforts earned him a Green Globe Award nomination and an award from the Cataraqui Conservation Foundation. He has also appeared frequently on television, radio, and in newspapers, with articles featured in the Toronto Zoo’s Amphibian Voice publication.
Despite this broad experience, dinosaurs remained at the core of Matthew’s interests, representing his greatest passion. This enduring affinity has driven him to seek opportunities to observe, photograph, and interact with dinosaur fossils. This includes species such as Coelophysis, Plateosaurus, Dilophosaurus, Tyrannosaurus rex, Velociraptor, Spinosaurus, Triceratops, Stegosaurus, Majungasaurus, Ceratosaurus, Daspletosaurus, Carcharodontosaurus, ankylosaurs, hadrosaurs, long-necked sauropods, and Allosaurus (his favorite).
Over the years, Matthew has delivered hundreds of workshops and presentations, including lectures at Queen’s University, Trent University, the Royal Botanical Gardens, St. Lawrence College, and King’s Town Private School. His outreach efforts earned him a Green Globe Award nomination and an award from the Cataraqui Conservation Foundation. He has also appeared frequently on television, radio, and in newspapers, with articles featured in the Toronto Zoo’s Amphibian Voice publication.
Despite this broad experience, dinosaurs remained at the core of Matthew’s interests, representing his greatest passion. This enduring affinity has driven him to seek opportunities to observe, photograph, and interact with dinosaur fossils. This includes species such as Coelophysis, Plateosaurus, Dilophosaurus, Tyrannosaurus rex, Velociraptor, Spinosaurus, Triceratops, Stegosaurus, Majungasaurus, Ceratosaurus, Daspletosaurus, Carcharodontosaurus, ankylosaurs, hadrosaurs, long-necked sauropods, and Allosaurus (his favorite).
Eventually, Matthew pursued a formal education in dinosaur paleobiology, completing the courses Dino 101: Dinosaur Paleobiology offered by the University of Alberta, and Dinosaurs: Evolution, Extinction, and Paleobiology from the American Museum of Natural history. He gained additional expertise, having also completed the course Rediscovering The Age Of Dinosaurs, taught by professor and field paleontologist Kristi Curry Rogers of Macalester College.
He later launched his dinosaur outreach education initiative, Dinosaur Devoted. Within the project’s first weeks, his dinosaur articles accumulated nearly 30,000 views (a respectable start)! One post was shared by the prominent Dinosaur Park Teufelsschlucht, and Matthew received encouraging feedback from readers around the world who credited his work with expanding their understanding of dinosaurs.
Matthew has also supported ongoing scientific research as a backer of the study Reassessing the evolutionary family tree and biogeography of the iconic sauropod group Diplodocoidea, contributing to continued research on sauropod evolution and diversity.
He later launched his dinosaur outreach education initiative, Dinosaur Devoted. Within the project’s first weeks, his dinosaur articles accumulated nearly 30,000 views (a respectable start)! One post was shared by the prominent Dinosaur Park Teufelsschlucht, and Matthew received encouraging feedback from readers around the world who credited his work with expanding their understanding of dinosaurs.
Matthew has also supported ongoing scientific research as a backer of the study Reassessing the evolutionary family tree and biogeography of the iconic sauropod group Diplodocoidea, contributing to continued research on sauropod evolution and diversity.
His articles on dinosaur paleobiology have been featured in several paleontological and mineralogical publications, including those of the Eastern Federation of Mineralogical and Lapidary Societies, the Gem & Mineral Society of Syracuse, the Chesapeake Gem and Mineral Society, and the environmental volume The Sagebrush Chronicle. One article was also presented to the Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists conservation group, where it received enthusiastic praise from the board. Further dinosaur articles were featured by the Edmonton Lapidary Club (a registered non-profit society) and the notable conservation group Nature Calgary.
To broaden public engagement, Matthew regularly shares his dinosaur write-ups across online paleontology and dinosaur communities, with several recent features reaching an estimated 100,000 views. His educational content has also been formally accepted for use by the Southern Arizona Museum of Science and Technology, with full attribution, and the museum has featured Matthew's article on Gorgosaurus in their newsletter publication.
To broaden public engagement, Matthew regularly shares his dinosaur write-ups across online paleontology and dinosaur communities, with several recent features reaching an estimated 100,000 views. His educational content has also been formally accepted for use by the Southern Arizona Museum of Science and Technology, with full attribution, and the museum has featured Matthew's article on Gorgosaurus in their newsletter publication.
Matthew engages with dinosaurs every day, through independent research, outreach, writing, or visual exploration. He considers this ongoing dedication to dinosaurs his greatest success and remains committed to continuing to share his passion through Dinosaur Devoted.