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cover of episode 814: Uncovering the Secrets of Ancient Creatures By Studying Fossils and the Fossilization Process - Dr. Sarah Gabbott

814: Uncovering the Secrets of Ancient Creatures By Studying Fossils and the Fossilization Process - Dr. Sarah Gabbott

2025/5/26
logo of podcast People Behind the Science Podcast Stories from Scientists about Science, Life, Research, and Science Careers

People Behind the Science Podcast Stories from Scientists about Science, Life, Research, and Science Careers

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Sarah Gabbott: 我喜欢观鸟,因为通过望远镜观察鸟类能让我欣赏到它们的美丽,即使是普通的麻雀,在望远镜下也能展现出其美丽之处。我喜欢观察鸟类的行为,尝试识别它们,并欣赏它们美妙的歌声。作为古生物学家,我的工作是研究数百万年前的生物,从而了解生命的进化和生态。古生物学家通过解读化石记录,研究古代生物的形态、饮食、运动方式等。古生物学与生物学的不同之处在于,我们无法直接观察,只能通过侦探工作来推断古代生物的行为和生态。古生物学允许我们运用想象力,即使不能百分之百确定答案,这也是其魅力所在。

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Dr. Gabbott describes her work as a paleontologist, focusing on fossils of creatures that lived millions of years ago to understand the evolution and ecology of life. She explains the detective work involved in interpreting fossils to understand how ancient organisms lived, emphasizing the imaginative aspect and the uncertainty that comes with it.
  • Paleontology involves studying fossils to understand the evolution of life and ecology through time.
  • Paleontologists use detective work and biological knowledge to understand how ancient organisms lived.
  • There is always uncertainty in paleontology, making it imaginative and engaging.

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Dr. Sarah Gabbott is a Professor of Palaeontology in the School of Geography, Geology, and the Environment at the University of Leicester. She is also Director of Green Circle Nature Regeneration CIC, a non-profit organization in the UK, and she is co-author of the recently released book Discarded: How Technofossils Will be Our Ultimate Legacy. As a paleontologist, Sarah primarily studies the fossils of creatures that lived millions of years ago to better understand the evolution of life and the ecology of life through time. She examines the remains of ancient organisms in the fossil record to understand what they looked like, how they ate, what they ate, how they moved, and more. Outside of the lab, you can often find Sarah out walking, riding around on her mountain bike, playing squash, birdwatching, or cooking. Sarah completed her undergraduate degree in geology at the University of Southampton and was awarded her PhD in paleobiology from the University of Leicester. Afterwards, she remained at the University of Leicester as a postdoctoral fellow before joining the faculty there. She has received the President’s Award of the Geological Society of London, the Paleontological Association’s Annual Meeting President’s Prize, and numerous grant awards to support her research over the years. In our interview, Sarah shares insights and stories from her life and science.