Kenneth Lacovara

Kenneth Lacovara
Born New Jersey, USA
Residence Swedesboro, New Jersey
Citizenship United States of America
Fields Paleontology
Institutions Drexel University
Alma mater Rowan University

Kenneth J. Lacovara is an American paleontologist and geologist at Drexel University and fellow of the Explorers Club,[1] known for the discovery of the titanosaurian dinosaur Dreadnoughtus and his involvement in the discovery and naming of the giant sauropod dinosaur Paralititan,[2][3] as well as his work applying 3D printing technology to paleontology.[4][5][6]

Biography

Lacovara graduated with honors from Rowan University in 1984. He was named Alumnus of the Year in 2002.[7] He received a Master’s degree in Physical Geography from the University of Maryland and a Ph.D in Geology from the University of Delaware in 1998.[8]

He is currently an Associate Professor of Biodiversity, Earth & Environmental Science in Drexel University's College of Arts and Sciences.

Discover Magazine named his work applying 3D printing technology to paleontology one of the “100 Top Science Stories of 2012.”[9]

Discoveries

On September 4, 2014, Lacovara's discovery of the giant titanosaur Dreadnoughtus schrani was published by the journal Scientific Reports, making international headlines. It is the most complete skeleton of a giant titanosaur discovered to date.[10]

Lacovara was part of the team that discovered Paralititan stromeri in the Bahariya Oasis of Egypt in 2000. Paralititan was the first new dinosaur discovery in Egypt since the early 20th century and was featured in the 2-hour documentary The Lost Dinosaurs of Egypt, narrated by Matthew McConaughey and produced by Ann Druyan. The team published their findings in Science in 2001.[11] The announcement of the new species was named by Discover Magazine as one of the "100 Top Science Stories of 2001".[12]

In China, Lacovara was part of a team that discovered multiple skeletons of the Early Cretaceous (Aptian-Albian) aquatic bird Gansus yumenensis. Gansus filled an important gap in bird evolution and the team published their result in Science in 2006.[13]

Lacovara was also a member of the team that discovered Suzhousaurus megatherioides, a therizinosauroid from the Lower Cretaceous of the Gobi Desert of China.

Mantua Township Fossil Heritage Site

Lacovara is a major proponent of preserving a Late Cretaceous fossil site in Mantua Township, New Jersey, as a fossil park and center for STEM education.[14]

References

  1. ↑ The Next Generation of Explorers. Men's Journal. September 2006. pp. 128–129.
  2. ↑ Roach, John (May 31, 2001). ""Tidal Giant" Roamed Coastal Swamps of Ancient Africa". National Geographic News. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  3. ↑ Smith, Jesse. "Paleontologist Kenneth Lacovara". The Smart Set. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  4. ↑ Hadhazy, Adam (January 29, 2013). "Digital Fossils Bring Dinos to Life" (January–February 2013). Discovery Magazine. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  5. ↑ Wilkins, Alasdair (February 21, 2012). "Robot dinosaurs are the future of paleontology". io9. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  6. ↑ Wagstaff, Keith (February 22, 2012). "The Robotic Dinosaurs That Could Change Paleontology Forever". Time. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  7. ↑ "Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients". Rowan Today. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  8. ↑ "Drexel University faculty page". Drexel University College of Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  9. ↑ "Discover Magazine's 100 Top Stories of 2012". Discover Magazine. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  10. ↑ Lacovara, Kenneth J.; Lamanna, Matthew C.; Ibiricu, Lucio M.; Poole, Jason C.; Schroeter, Elena C.; Ullman, Paul V.; Voegele, Kristyn K.; Boles, Zachary M.; Carter, Aja M.; Fowler, Emma K.; Egerton, Victoria M.; Moyer, Alison E.; Coughenour, Christopher L.; Schein, Jason P.; Harris, Jerald D.; Martínez, Rubén D; Novas, Fernando E. (September 4, 2014). "A Gigantic, Exceptionally Complete Titanosaurian Sauropod Dinosaur from Southern Patagonia, Argentina". Scientific Reports 4: 6196. doi:10.1038/srep06196. PMID 25186586. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  11. ↑ Smith, Joshua; Lamanna, Matthew; Lacovara, Kenneth; Dodson, Peter; Smith, Jennifer; Poole, Jason; Giegengack, Robert; Attia, Yousry (June 1, 2001). "A Giant Sauropod Dinosaur from an Upper Cretaceous Mangrove Deposit in Egypt". Science 292 (5522): 1704–6. doi:10.1126/science.1060561. PMID 11387472.
  12. ↑ "Campus Buzz: A huge discovery...". Penn Current. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  13. ↑ You, Hai-Lu; Lamanna, Matthew; Harris, Jerald; Chiappe, Luis; O'Connor, Jingmai; Ji, Shu-an; Lü, Jun-chang; Yuan, Chong-xi; Li, Da-qing; Zhang, Xing; Lacovara, Kenneth; Dodson, Peter; Ji, Qiang (June 16, 2006). "A Nearly Modern Amphibious Bird from the Early Cretaceous of Northwestern China". Science 312 (5780): 1640–1643. doi:10.1126/science.1126377. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  14. ↑ Driscoll, Jessica (June 28, 2012). "Mantua Township's Inversand site may be of national importance to paleontologists". Gloucester County Times. Retrieved 4 August 2014.

External links