This video project cannot exist without the talents, knowledge, efforts and patience of the amazing people who have helped to make IDU Curiosity videos over the years.

Dr. Elizabeth Smith

Dr. Smith is a palaeontologist and author who specialises in the opalised fossils of Lightning Ridge, and authored Black Opal Fossils of Lightning Ridge - Treasures from the Rainbow Billabong (1999).

Elizabeth has made an unprecedented contribution to preserving opalised fossils for scientific research. She is also passionate about documenting and preserving the natural history and cultural heritage of Australian opal fields, and has documented the opalised fossil flora and fauna, sites and assemblages of Lightning Ridge in her PhD thesis (University of New South Wales, Sydney 2009) and subsequent peer-reviewed papers.

Dr. Smith has been a contributor to IDU Curiosity since the very first video, The Secret Weapon of Crayfish in 2015. Making that video was a terrifying adventure for all of us, but it was the start of something very rewarding.

Graeme Anderson

Retired potter, backyard scientist, train dweller and Lightning Ridge resident — among Graeme’s myriad claims to fame is his incredible opal clay pottery, created and designed with skill, care, art and science.

Graeme’s unique ceramics have evolved through trial and error, using crazy ideas and complex methods borrowed from all over the world.

Graeme has contributed to IDU Curiosity since The Science of Pots, where he demonstrated and explored some of the more peculiar and unique techniques he has applied to his pottery over the decades.

Barbara Moritz

An accomplished author of several books and articles about Lightning Ridge history, Barbara is secretary of the Lightning Ridge Historical Society.