ICP voluntariat is born to respond to the numerous requests for altruistic participation in the center activities. It is structured as a program that allows learning while enjoying life experiences around research, conservation and dissemination of paleontology.

Paleontology has always aroused passions both in adults and children. ICP, due mainly to the activity in the territory –excavations- and the museum in Sabadell, is in contact with a large number of passionate people about this topic. Many of them have proposed themselves to collaborate with us. From conversations with them, we see that want to learn about paleontology, touch fossils, get a close look to excavations, transmit to others their passion for paleontology.

For this reason ICP voluntariat is born to turn these collaborations into great experiences for volunteers, while making them feel part of the ICP team.

This volunteer program initially includes collaborations in:

• the management of the ICP collection, such as registration, documentation and support in the packaging and storage of pieces
• the field work in the various surveys and excavations carried out by ICP researchers
• the cleaning and sorting of sediments extracted from excavations
• the guiding of visits to the exhibition, especially aimed at audiences with special needs or interests
• the design and implementation of educational and dissemination activities
• the dissemination 2.0 of scientific events

These are only initial proposals, as the ICP is open to other collaborations that may emerge later, either by our own initiative or by the interest of any person interested in this volunteer program.

The formal engagement to ICP voluntariat is done through a small contract between the institution and the volunteer person, with a dual purpose. On the one hand, it is the volunteer who decides the hours and days he/she wants to compromise to its collaboration with the ICP. On the other hand, to ensure the institutional recognition of this collaboration. In addition, all volunteers are invited to become ICP Members, which entitles them to visit for free and unrestricted our facilities, discounts at the museum store, receive invitations for events and activities organized from the ICP -like talks, visits to excavations, etc- and subscription to our monthly newsletter, among others.

First ICP volunteers

Last November, four volunteers began several collaborations with the Department of Collection Management of the ICP, initiating the program ICP voluntariat. As Laura Celià, coordinator of the Espai Miquel Crusafont and curator at ICP, said "their requests for collaboration made us design this volunteer program. We could say that they are the major drivers of ICP voluntariat."

Up to now, the four are working in the management of the ICP collection. After the remodeling of the spaces in Sabadell, a review, organization and relocation of the entire collection are needed. It is a work of vital importance both to the preservation of the fossils, and to make them accessible to researchers.

Laura Sanchez came to ICP by his grandfather, interested in paleontology and archeology since youth, and former collaborator of Dr. Miquel Crusafont. Laura is studying the degree of Archaeology and was very interested in learning about management of a collection such as the ICP.

Margarita Villa is a geology student who spends fifteen hours a week at the ICP Area of Collections Management. She, who had previously participated in Vallparadís excavations, decided to become a volunteer because she wanted to be in contact with researchers and learn first hand about the campaigns planned for the summer.

Xavier Oller, instead, decided to expand its collaboration with the ICP, which began with an internship in the Master in Management of Cultural Heritage. He comes once a week to the ICP Museum to assist in the improvement of the ICP collection.

Marti Moret was unemployed and came to ICP to fulfill his passion: learn about and touch dinosaur fossils. The collaboration has led him to discover new animal species and increase his knowledge of paleontology.

ICP voluntariat: participate!

Whether you already know us and have very clear on what you would want to collaborate, as if you still do not know quite what to do but you are sure that you want to do something with us, write to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .