Scottish Dinosaurs

Scottish Dinosaurs

Date: Monday 6th February 2017

Time: 7pm

Venue: the Victorian Bar, Tron Theatre

Speaker: Steve Brusatte

Subject: Scotland's Jurassic Park: New Discoveries from the Isle of Skye and What They Tell Us About Dinosaur Evolution.

Fossils provide a perspective on evolution that is lost if we focus solely on living organisms. Only by studying fossils can we appreciate the great diversity of life throughout earth’s history, and understand how groups change alongside a dynamically changing planet. One group of animals that are of particular interest are dinosaurs, including some that have been found on the Isle of Skye, Scotland’s Jurassic Park. But how do these Scottish dinosaurs fit into the larger picture of dinosaur evolution. Where did dinosaurs come from and how did they rise to their position of dominance. In addition, why did some o them evolve into birds and whilst the rest of them became extinct.

Dr Steve Brusatte is a palaeontologist at the University of Edinburgh. He is a specialist on the anatomy, genealogy, and evolution of fossil vertebrates, particularly dinosaurs. He has written nearly 100 peer-reviewed papers and the leading textbook Dinosaur Paleobiology, done fieldwork around the world, described over 15 new species of dinosaurs and other vertebrates, and is the 'resident palaeontologist' for the BBC's Walking With Dinosaurs programme.