Why Do Dinosaurs Matter?
On October 17, the Town Square series of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University and WHYY’s The Pulse presented “Why Dinosaurs Matter: A Conversation With Kenneth Lacovara.”
Lacovara is dean of the School of Earth & Environment and director of Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park at Rowan University. He is a paleontologist who is world-renowned for his discovery of the giant plant-eating dinosaur Dreadnoughtus schrani. He also is known for uncovering scientifically significant Cretaceous-age fossils in Mantua Township, N.J.
At this Academy Town Square, which was moderated by WHYY’s The Pulse host Maiken Scott, Lacovara took us back in time and offered the latest ideas about dinosaurs and what their extinction means for humankind. After the discussion, he signed copies of his new book Why Dinosaurs Matter.
Missed the event? We’ve got you covered. Click here to view our Facebook live coverage of the talk.
More About Ken Lacovara
Lacovara is the director of the Rowan University Fossil Quarry, where for 13 years he has conducted globally significant scientific research in a former sand mining pit. Lacovara and his researchers have uncovered numerous articulated skeletons at this site, leading the team to hypothesize that the animals were part of a mass die-off—linked perhaps to the asteroid-induced calamity that ended the reign of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Committed to the discovery and characterization of extinct forms of life, Lacovara conducts exploratory fieldwork in pursuit of species that contribute to our understanding of life. His research focuses on the Mesozoic Era paleo environments.
Post by Liyah Desher