PHILADELPHIA, September 25, 2017

What can long-dead dinosaurs teach us about our future? Plenty, according to Rowan University paleontologist Kenneth Lacovara, who will discuss his new book Why Dinosaurs Matter at a free Academy Town Square presented with WHYY’s The Pulse on Wednesday, Oct. 17.

Lacovara, PhD, dean of the School of Earth & Environment and director of the Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park of Rowan University, discovered one of the largest creatures to ever walk the earth, Dreadnoughtus schrani. His new book, Why Dinosaurs Matter (Simon & Schuster and TED Books), is a reminder that people’s “place on earth is both precarious and potentially fleeting, and that as we move into an uncertain environmental future, it has never been more important to understand the deep past.”

"Why Dinosaurs Matter: A Conversation with Kenneth Lacovara" begins at 6:30 p.m. and will be moderated by WHYY’s The Pulse Host  Maiken Scott. Lacovara will discuss how understanding dinosaurs and their vulnerabilities helps us better grasp our place on the tree of life and why we must protect our planet now. As renowned anthropologist Dr. Alice Roberts writes: “Majestic, awe-inspiring, and deeply humbling. Kenneth Lacovara reveals how dinosaurs have changed how we understand time, the world, and ourselves.”

A book-signing will follow the talk. The event is free, but registration is required to ensure seating. To register, visit http://bit.ly/2hcBpu5

Lacovara is a paleontology fellow of the Academy of Natural Sciences. While a professor at Drexel University before joining Rowan, he and his team unearthed the super-massive Dreadnoughtus, which at 65 tons weighed more than seven T. rex. In the lab, Lacovara applies cutting-edge technology to the study of dinosaurs by using 3D imaging, 3D printing, robotics, and medical modeling techniques. His work is helping shift the perspective of giant plant-eating dinosaurs from their historic portrayal as hapless, lumbering prey to that of fearsome, hulking, hyper-efficient eating machines.

The talk at Philadelphia’s dinosaur museum coincides with the Academy’s newest dinosaur-themed exhibit, Tiny Titans: Dinosaur Eggs and Babies. Tiny Titans, on view through Jan. 15, features authentic fossilized dinosaur eggs and recent discoveries about dinosaur reproduction and behavior.

The Academy Town Square series is designed to engage and provide relevant educational content to the public on environmental issues. The series is made possible by Warren Environmental Counsel.

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To download an image of Kenneth Lacovara, visit the Press Room, Programs and Events.

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