Digging up the Past: Dinosaur Research Experience at Hku Sharing

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What our Student say... DIGGING UP THE PAST: DINOSAUR RESEARCH EXPERIENCE AT HKU SHARING able to identify which part of the body an isolated bone belongs was noted for its unusual size and anatomical characteristics. to. A wide variety of fossils were discovered at the field site, I visited the Longhao Institute of Geology and Paleontology n 2015, I joined the including remains of dinosaurs, crocodiles, fishes and turtles. in Inner Mongolia to study the holotype of Gigantoraptor. As “IVertebrate Palaeontology part of the project, I also had the opportunity to study some Laboratory as a student member of the most important dinosuar specimens from China in IVPP after expressing my interest in for comparative study. Besides, I constructed 3D models of the palaeontology to Dr Michael specimens using photogrammetry software. Pittman. Since then, Dr During the research Pittman has provided me with trip, I was trained to numerous opportunities to work independently and take part in research projects manage my time well. and outreach activities. As a visiting student, I In the summer of 2015, I Following the fieldwork, I conducted my first summer made friends with the research project in Beijing — I worked on some undescribed postgraduate students travelled to Beijing and dinosaur specimens provided by Prof Xu Xing, a renowned and researchers in various places in Inner palaeontologist from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and the Institute. They Mongolia as part of the Paleoanthropology (IVPP). I used laser-stimulated fluorescence have given me a lot of filming crew of the (LSF) imaging technique to improve the visibility of the dinosaur insightful advice which HKU free online course bones preserved in rock slabs. The images taken with this would definitely help FION WAI SUM MA ‘Dinosaur Ecosystems’. technique allowed palaeontologists to observe the fossil anatomy improve my research project. Overall, my research experience at 2017 BSc Graduate (double major in Geology more easily and accurately. HKU was fun and eye-opening. It has motivated me to continue my research career in palaeontology in the future.” and Ecology & Biodiversity) I had my first-ever In 2016, I did my second summer project under the supervision of palaeontological expedition Profile Prof Xu and Dr Pittman. I completed the first in-depth description • Member of Vertebrate Palaeontology Laboratory 2015-2017 (Department of in the Gobi Desert of of the toothless jaw of a giant bird-like dinosaur Gigantoraptor Earth Sciences, HKU) Inner Mongolia. Despite and provided some new insights into the functional evolution of • Summer Research Fellowship 2015 (Department of Earth Sciences, HKU) the hot weather, I had oviraptorosaur jaw. This specimen was discovered in 2006 and • Overseas Research Fellowship 2016 (Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and fun digging fossils in the • Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences) desert with professional • Ecology & biodiversity field course 2016 (2-week marine mammal field trip in palaeontologists. They Cebu, Philippines) taught me basic animal • Integrated field studies 2017 (3-week geology field trip in Montana, USA) anatomy so that I would be “All of this experience has made me more certain to pursue a PhD degree to fulfill my dream of becoming a palaeontologist.” .

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