Palaeontologist Derek Briggs, holder of the Boyle Medal for scientificresearch and excellence, is to talk at the RDS about animals that long pre-dated the dinosaurs, soft-bodied sea creatures that lived 500 million years ago
What the fossil record tells us about early life and evolution on our planet will be under discussion at a free public lecture next week in Dublin entitled "Fantastic Fossils". The lecture is jointly organised by The Irish Times and the Royal Dublin Society, which will host the event.
The current Boyle Medal laureate, palaeontologist Derek Briggs, will deliver the free talk at 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 10th, in the Minerva Suite at the RDS, Ballsbridge. Originally from Dublin and currently professor of palaeontology in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol, Briggs is the most recent recipient of the biannual Boyle Medal.
The medal recognises scientific research excellence and is awarded alternatively to a scientist working in Ireland and then an Irish-born scientist working abroad. Prof Briggs won the 2001 award, the second to be made following the joint relaunch in 1999 of the Boyle Medal by the RDS and The Irish Times. The century-old medal programme was originated by the RDS and first awarded in 1899.
Prof Briggs will point out that fossils are about more than big dinosaur bones and ancient shells. He specialises in the study of animals that long pre-dated the dinosaurs, soft-bodied sea creatures that lived 500 million years ago.
He won the Boyle Medal for his groundbreaking work on how these long-extinct animals were preserved and the chemical processes involved. During his talk, which is suited for a lay audience, he will discuss his findings and also explain the insights these fossils provide into the evolution of life on earth.
He will bring along slides and examples of the fossils under discussion and answer questions from the public on his work.
The lecture is free but seats must be booked as space in the Minerva Suite is limited. Those wishing to book a place should contact Claire Mullin of The Irish Times either by phone at (01) 675-8709 or by e-mail at ctmullin@irish-times.ie