For the last couple weeks we imagined that we had traveled somewhere in the world and also around this country to prospect for dinosaur remains at locations known to be "fruitfully fossiliferous" in the past. We used the information we found online to recreate field excursions for ourselves.
Wouldn't it be great to know a bit more from those who have actually made such excursions? What would we especially like to know from a field paleontologist about her/his adventures, discoveries and interpretations?
Please share a question you would love to ask someone who could reveal the realities of this profession -- the good, the bad and the surprising about it! What is it about "dinosaur hunting" that you would like to ask someone who has first-hand knowledge? You might be interested in the science or just the practical aspects of fossil prospecting. Maybe you want to know what advice she / he might provide for anyone of us who may be thinking of pursuing such a career ... or may just be thinking of exploring for a fossil now and then!
I am hoping you will choose one question that you are most eager to have answered but has not been asked yet by someone else in the class already. Post it here this week. I will then share all our questions with a number of renowned (and/or emerging) paleontologists to seek their help in teaching us more. Some of these scientists may be the same ones whom we identified on this blog and in our homework and class discussion room over the last few weeks as among the many researchers we admired.
I will ask a number of paleontologists to read your questions after the week is over and then send their comments on them directly to me. I will post all those comments on this blog in the week after next so we each have a chance to read and respond back to their contributions to our learning. We might be surprised by some of what we learn!
Thanks! Dr. B.
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19 comments:
How do you navigate the bureaucracy surrounding the demands of the people/groups/institutions that fund your expeditions while still maintaining your sense of adventure and excitement?
From your professional and personal opinion, do you believe that we have a chance in discovering a new Dinosaur species. If we did uncover a new bone structure of a fossilized dinosaur what are the steps taken to name the new species and who decides what to call the new found dinosaur?
I hope my question doesn't sound to informal, but is a true wonder of mine. As we have read in our textbook, some famous paleontologists were said to have a "smell" for finding the fossils and locations. I would want to know if any others feel like they have this feeling of "luck", or just a "know" of where to look? Do you rely solely on scientific information and other sources as a rule for prospecting new finds, or do you ever feel like you get a "feeling" that leads you to the right spot? Do you have any stories of an amazing find that you felt was very lucky?
I'm wanting to know what confrontations or problems you have had to resolve while you have had with uncovering and removing Dinosaur fossils from what they would consider "sacred ground." Also, maybe a case where the locals or tribesmen thought the fossils themselves were to be sacred.
Does it ever get to be too much? I picture the whole excavation process being a real lengthy process. To endure hot days usually out in the middle of nowhere which could mean extended periods away from family, does it ever get to be too much? To have an overwhelming feeling or need to get back home.
What are the stories and information behind your favorite fossil, whether it be one you discovered or not? What sets this one apart from the rest?
This might be an unconventional question, but what kind of discovery would be a paleontologist's "jackpot"? Is there some kind of missing link or holy grail of paleontology that everyone secretly hopes to find?
Have you ever been chased out of a dig by a wild animal before? If so then what was it?
Also I have another question, which is what is the most picturesque and beautiful dig site you've ever been on? What made it so pretty?
If you could identify the most helpful part of your educational training (college) for this profession, what would it be. Likewise, what would you say was the least beneficial part of going to school for these digs?
What inspired you to become who you are today and motivates you to go out on finds when there are so many steps and processes to go through? Have you ever regret going out on a dig? Is paleontology your true passion? I know thats more than one question but they seem intertwined to me. I think what has propelled my interest in class thus far is the detailed examination of anatomy.
I love dinosaurs, but the skeptical side of me always gets the best of me, so here goes: What makes you so sure the bones you're piecing together are correct? For instance, why does tyrannosaurus rex have such small forearms? What makes these arms practical on such a gigantic beast? What makes you so sure you're not attaching the wrong arms to t-rex and maybe they're all buried in a hodgepodge of different dinosaurs? Maybe he was killed by another dinosaur and his real arms were dragged elsewhere?
I've enjoyed learning about the changes and strides we've made in the understanding of our planet and the life that came before us. What is one thing that completely surprised you when you started working in the paleontology field?
-K O'Connor
I do like the idea of evolution because it allows us to explain more or less rationally the origin of the humans.My question is this:according to you,is the idea stating that man was created by God false?If men are the products of the evolution,can you explain me based on the theory of evolution how come that we have different races?Is it also related to the evolution?
Is there any evidence tell us which kind of dinosaur was the first appeared on Earth? If yes, what is the evidence?
And do the existing discovery tell us what kind of organisms evolved to be dinosaur?
I've always wondered if there is a popular area or areas where people feel the most dinosaurs are! What is your favorite continent to travel to look for bones? Or the best one, in your opinion, to find dinosaurs.
This may be a strange question, funny even; but I randomly wondered about so here goes. When in the field, finding bones is there are smell? I have been wondering about the possibility that some are different colors, of course sizes, weight and etc.
Once you have found the fossils, what is the excavation site like? How many people are usually there to help? Are there a lot of volunteers helping? Are there different shifts for people to work? How many hours days do you typically work at the site?
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