Oct. 24-26, 2009, Yingjie Overseas Exchange Center, Peking University, Beijing, China中文版

Darwin and the Dinosaurs

Philip J. Currie

Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada

Abstract

Perhaps the most famous biologist of all times, Charles Darwin is best known for the ideas published in his book “On the origin of species” (1859). The widespread public belief is that the development of the theory of evolution is more important for palaeontologists (who are interested in understanding the history of the Earth) than it is for anyone else. This is not true of course, and the development of the theory had a profound impact on all sciences. It also went far beyond that to also have an enormous influence on certain aspects of politics and society in general. Nevertheless, it is curious that in spite of the connection between palaeontology and the theory of evolution, fossils play a relatively minor role in any edition of “On the origin of species”. Darwin, when he started his career as the naturalist on “The Beagle”, considered himself primarily as a geologist. He was successful at collecting significant fossils in Argentina, which ironically were studied by Richard Owen, the man who proposed the name “dinosaur” in 1841, and ultimately became Darwin’s most bitter opponent. Although fossil vertebrates are seldom mentioned in Darwin’s major work on evolution, there is no question that they had a major influence on his thinking as he developed his concept of evolution.

Philip J. Currie

Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada

Biography

Philip J. Currie, Professor and Canada Research Chair (Dinosaur Palaeobiology) at the University of Alberta, research associate (Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology) and Adjunct Full Professor (University of Calgary). BSc (Toronto, 1972), MSc (McGill, 1975), PhD (McGill, 1981), LLD (University of Calgary, 2008), Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (1999). He has published 125 scientific (peer-reviewed) articles, 124 popular articles and twenty books, focussing on the growth and variation of extinct reptiles, the anatomy and relationships of carnivorous dinosaurs, and the origin of birds. Fieldwork connected with his research has been concentrated in Alberta, Antarctica, Argentina, British Columbia, the Arctic, Mongolia, and China. Sir Frederick Haultain Award (for significant contributions to science in Alberta), 1988. American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Michel T. Halbouty Human Needs Award, 1999. Michael Smith Award for Science Promotion, 2004. ASTech (Alberta Science and Technology Leadership) Foundation, Outstanding Leadership in Alberta Science Award, 2006. Since 1986, he has supervised or co-supervised 30 MSc and PhD students at the University of Alberta, University of Calgary, the University of Saskatchewan, and the University of Copenhagen. He has given hundreds of popular and scientific lectures on dinosaurs all over the world, and is often interviewed by the press.