Interview with Ben Thuy, the Swiss Army Knife of Palaeontology at the MNHNL

Ben Thuy is a palaeontologist at Luxembourg’s National Museum of Natural History. Discover his career path and the wide scope of his work in this in-depth interview.

Ben Thuy is a true Swiss Army Knife of palaeontology. Far from being content with his job as curator, he is also a researcher, participates in excavations and is actively involved in communication, mediation and scientific outreach.

He was involved in the discovery of Lorrainosaurus, the largest known pliosaur (a prehistoric marine reptile).

He was also involved in the discovery of Melusinaster allissawhitegluzae – an echinoderm related to starfish – which he named after the singer Alissa White-Gluz, from the group Arch Enemy.

A perfect blend of metal and rock.

How long have you been a palaeontologist at MNHN? How did this adventure begin?

After my doctorate in palaeontology, I did a 6-month postdoc at the University of Göttingen, but I already knew I wanted to leave the academic world. Since my wife is also a palaeontologist, it made sense for only one of us to pursue a research career — so we could stay together, start a family, and not end up on different continents.

The aim was nevertheless to keep palaeontology in my life. I started teaching while continuing research on the side. I taught at Lycée Michel Lucius (Editor’s note: the school is named after Michel Lucius, a geologist and founder of the Geological Survey of Luxembourg).

I then found a job as an environmental engineer at the Environment Agency. The position of palaeontologist is very rare and difficult to obtain. By a happy coincidence, my predecessor became director, and the position opened up unexpectedly. So, I was offered a change of department, and to start at the MNHNL.

At first, I said no. I liked my job as an environmental engineer and part-time researcher. But that didn’t last long — I applied, and in May 2015, I officially became curator of palaeontology at the MNHN. I’ve never looked back since.

I'm still benefiting from my time as a teacher. It gave me good experience in planning, conceptualising and practicing communication. I've always had a passion for passing on knowledge. Working at the Museum allows me to combine these two aspects: research and communication.

What do you like about your job?

What appeals to me in research is leaving the beaten track and getting to grips with neglected groups like brittle stars. This is a group that has attracted very little attention: studying them was like venturing into uncharted territory, like a playground that nobody has used before.

The second aspect that appeals to me is that we have a supposedly well-known area like Luxembourg, and yet we discover wonders there. I love going all the way, digging deep and discovering groups of animals that I didn't even know existed. Like the onychophora in the Rinnen quarry in Consthum.

And finally, I enjoy communicating science in ways that would have thrilled me as a kid. My goal is to create exhibitions I would’ve loved as a child — and to engage all kinds of people: scientists, children, curious visitors, or metalheads.

What's your day-to-day life like in the field?

My main mission is to explore the geological formations of Luxembourg. International digs are less frequent, as the Grand Duchy is the priority. But in 2023, for example, I participated in a collaborative dig in Germany to expand my network and share expertise.

As for the day-to-day aspects, you have to plan things carefully, consult with the participants, organise events and accommodation... that's the social side of being a palaeontologist. The personal and relational dimension is highly developed. If I had to sum up everyday life on the digs, I'd say it's both logistical and convivial.

What made you want to become a palaeontologist?

For me, the key moment was seeing the film Jurassic Park. I saw it at a crucial moment in my childhood; at the time, I wanted to discover dinosaurs. My father, who knew the contractors, the old quarries and the ones that were still active, gave me a lot of support in this project: he would take me to the quarries so that I could live out my passion. I found my own fossils, which made a big difference. In Rumelange, I discovered a fossil sea urchin that captivated me — its symmetry and form led me to study it in detail. That's why I now specialise in brittle stars (editor's note: a class of echinoderm whose shape is reminiscent of a starfish). With this sea urchin and the help of my biology teacher, I entered the Jonk Fuerscher competition and won. The experience of submitting a research report is extremely valuable. Writing a paper that is then evaluated by other scientists: that's exactly what I still do today. It was my first step into the world of scientific research, with its moments of frustration and joy.

Another key moment happened when I was a teenager. A biochemist came to our school one day to talk about his profession. I told him I wanted to become a palaeontologist, and he told me it wasn't a good idea, that it was pointless. I was going through puberty — so naturally, I took that as a challenge and became one anyway.

In short, you have to meet the right people at the right time, and it all becomes obvious...

If you had infinite research funds, how would you use them?

I'd hire a lot more PhD students. It's always a shame to see highly motivated talented people unable to embark on research because of a lack of funding. Sometimes the decision to take on a candidate has nothing to do with their qualifications. Budgetary freedom would allow me to propose projects to motivated candidates and help those who want to get started.

That said, the budgetary and administrative constraints don't limit me in the projects I want to implement myself, which is very much appreciated. It's a privilege to work here.

The discovery you're most proud of?

That's a difficult question! It changes from day to day. Some discoveries are particularly dear to my heart, especially when they have demanded a lot of time and effort. I'm thinking in particular of this pair of species of brittle stars from the Silurian (editor's note: a geological system that extends from 443 to 419 million years ago), which we published three years ago.

These two species represent the moment of birth of today's brittle stars: we have therefore found and named the common ancestor of all living brittle stars. The publication process was long, arduous and difficult, because we had to argue in a very sophisticated way to counter the negative reviews. The article was initially rejected, but the editor gave us a second chance and we published, after a year and a half of hard work! It was a great victory, and quite a journey.

The other discovery that is important to me is a 2011 study on the origin of deep-sea fauna. 14 years after its publication, the number of studies referring to this discovery is still growing: this work has really made a difference! It has changed the perspective on the evolutionary history of the deep sea.

What advice would you give to future young palaeontologists?

Identify with strong characters who will act as role models. Attach yourself to their authenticity and identity. This will help you achieve your objectives.

That's why I think we need great diversity in the key positions of society: to allow for diverse identification. For example, if a woman holds a high academic position, she may inspire young girls to follow in her footsteps.

What book, film or series would you recommend to today's young scientists?

The film: Indiana Jones, for the spirit of discovery and adventure.

The series: Star Trek, for the scientific ethic, the interconnection of species, the open-mindedness and the idea of a global, international scientific community abiding by the same codex.

The book: The Lord of the Rings for the exploration and ethics, and for the collaborative spirit too. The story of the discovery of an unknown world is well worth the read.

To sum up, the scientific reality we experience every day is friendly, international and collaborative. We all share the same spirit of discovery.

IInterview: Diane Bertel

Editors: Monique Kirsch, Selma Weber