Young Explorers Series: The Science of Modern Dinosaur Research: Why Exploration Still Matters

Young Explorers Series: The Science of Modern Dinosaur Research: Why Exploration Still Matters

Speaker: Dr. Fion Ma— Vertebrate Palaeontologist

Dr. Fion Ma is a vertebrate palaeontologist from Hong Kong. She specialises in using digital modelling to study the anatomy, ecology, and evolution of vertebrate animals, including dinosaurs and pterosaurs. Her fieldwork has taken her to regions such as the Gobi Desert, Tianshan Mountains, and Gangdise Mountains. Her scientific discoveries and commentary have been featured in the BBC, National Geographic, and the New York Times. She has contributed to naming new species of extinct animals, including Kunpengopterus antipollicatus (‘Monkeydactyl’), a flying reptile notable as the oldest known animal with opposable thumbs. This discovery was selected as one of the ‘6 surprising records science set in 2021’ by Science News. She is also known for her work on ‘Baby Yingliang’, one of the best-preserved dinosaur embryos ever discovered, which was recognised by the Smithsonian Magazine as one of the top ten dinosaur discoveries of 2022.

Fion is a research associate at the Beipiao Pterosaur Museum of China and was formerly a postdoctoral researcher at the National Museum of Natural History in the USA. She holds a PhD in Earth Sciences from the University of Birmingham.

In this lecture, Fion will share how modern technology has transformed the field of dinosaur palaeontology and her experience from a recent expedition to the Qiangtang Plateau in Tibet, highlighting the vital role of exploratory fieldwork amidst the increasing focus on lab-based research.