118 – Prof Patricia Vickers-Rich – Palaeontology 101
I speak to Professor Patricia Vickers-Rich, the Director of the Monash Science Centre and Personal Chair of Palaeontology at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, about palaeontology. Topics we covered included:
– What is palaeontology?
– What areas of science does palaeontology cover?
– If you’re interested in palaeontology, what should you consider learning?
– Prof Rich talks a little about the origin of birds in Australia
– How big were these birds?
– How closely related are animals of different continents, and why?
– Some of the unusual structures of animals from the past – and their relation to microbial life
– What jobs can palaeontologists get?
– Some examples of different places in the world palaeontology has taken Prof Vickers-Rich, and some of the cultures she experienced
– The value of learning different cultures and how this relates to research
Today’s listener of the episode is Sharon Ryan from Australia.
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July 14th, 2010 at 15:04
That was a very good interview with Professor Patricia Vickers-Rich! I was fascinated with the section about lateral gene transfer. This idea make perfect sense when thinking about how the earliest forms of life on the planet were mats of microbes and algae and co-operation was the ticket to survival.
Great show and keep up the good work!
July 14th, 2010 at 15:54
Craig,
Thanks for your comment. Yes, the whole process of lateral gene transfer is amazing, and quite the breakthrough when first proposed.
I hope you keep enjoying the show!
OG