For more than three decades, Andrew (Andy) Neuman helped shape the way countless visitors experienced palaeontology at the world-renowned Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology. As the museum’s longtime Executive Director, Andy became a guiding force behind one of the most important palaeontological institutions anywhere in the world, helping transform Alberta’s fossil heritage into something immersive, accessible, and deeply inspiring for generations of curious minds.
But Andy's connection to palaeontology has never been confined to office walls or museum galleries. His career has been rooted in the fossils themselves: the painstaking work of collections management, field research, preservation, and the ongoing challenge of interpreting ancient life for both scientists and the public alike. Joining the Royal Tyrrell Museum in 1986, less than a year after it first opened its doors, Andy initially served as Head of Collections before eventually becoming Executive Director in 2007.
Andy’s career has always remained closely tied to the science and discovery at the heart of palaeontology. His research interests have included Mesozoic-era fishes from western North America, while his fieldwork and collaborative projects have taken him across Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and the Canadian Arctic. Along the way, he became deeply involved in the preservation of fossils uncovered not only through dedicated excavations, but through industrial and commercial discoveries as well, helping forge important relationships between palaeontologists and industries operating across western Canada.
What perhaps distinguishes Andy most, however, is his ability to connect palaeontology with the broader human experience. Under his leadership, the Royal Tyrrell Museum expanded not only its scientific reach, but also its reputation as one of the world’s great centres for public engagement with prehistory. From gallery renewals and distance-learning programs to hands-on educational initiatives that reached audiences around the globe, Andy helped ensure that palaeontology remained something living and participatory rather than distant or academic.
Even in retirement, Andy’s connection to the field has remained deeply active and hands-on. He has continued volunteering in the field, laboratory, and educational programming at the museum, while also leading geology, palaeontology, and natural history-focused paddling, hiking, and bus tours that invite travellers to experience the landscapes of western Canada through the lens of deep prehistory and natural discovery.
Now, after a career spent stewarding one of Canada’s most celebrated palaeontological institutions, Andy continues to share the perspective that comes from decades spent at the intersection of research, education, exploration, and discovery.