SPEECHES ON DEMAND
These are not your average lectures! Jurassic James’ lectures are not only educational, but also entertaining with jokes and stories. Think of them as stand-up comedy science for all ages.
Paleontology on Demand
The History of Paleontology
- Description: Fossils have intrigued humanity for centuries, yet the science of paleontology is relatively new. In this lecture I will tell the story of the first professional paleontologist, a young lady named Mary Anning whom is better known by the rhyme “she sells seashells by the seashore”. As well as the Father of Vertebrate Paleontology George Cuvier’s first understanding of the flying reptile Pterodactyl and marine reptile Mosasaurus. Simply put how these creatures went from mysteries to monsters.
The Dinosaurs of Jurassic World
- Description: A scientific critique of all the dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals featured in the Jurassic Park franchise. After the power-point presentation there was a question and answer panel of one for the visitors.
Dinosaurs of Hollywood
- Description: This lecture was a detailed historical tour of dinosaur depictions since 1914 to 2018’s Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.
Sex in the Fossil Record
- Description: Sex or should I say reproduction is the driving force of evolution. Prominent paleontologist Dr. Robert T. Bakker once said you can be the biggest, strongest and have the largest horns, but it does not matter in respect to evolution if you do not pass those genes to the next generations. This lecture will explain all the ways life on Earth have continued to do just that for over 3.5 billion years.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters
- Description: Hands down the most iconic Kaiju is Godzilla. Although almost everyone had heard of Godzilla, very few people know of his origin. This lecture also will dissect the history of the creatures in the Godzilla franchise. From their cultural origins and what science has to say about such awesome monsters.
The Creatures of Science Fiction
- Description: Star Wars, Avatar and Lord of the Rings are all franchises known for their unique worlds, alien civilizations and species. The little known secret of paleontology is every non-anthropomorphic creature has a real world fossil equivalent. In this lecture Jurassic James will explain the species and describe the environments and geologic conditions that lead to the features depicted.
Creatures of Ancient Mythology
- Description: If you have ever wondered how something that does not exist can be so well known throughout the world? What does science have to say? Well unicorns, cyclopes, griffins and dragons can easily be explained by the fossils discovered where these mythical creatures are found. In this lecture you will learn about the history of these mythologies and how the cultures of the world came to believe them.
Pacific Rim: The Science of the Kaiju
- Description: In 2013 the cult classic Pacific Rim hit the big screen! This lecture is a rundown of all the Kaiju (a japanese word meaning strange creature) featured in the film and a comparison with their modern and fossil equivalents.
What is Evolution? And what evidence supports it?
- Description: Since Charles Darwin published his revolutionary book The Origin of Species,the Theory of Evolution has been misquoted and misunderstood. This lecture goes over the the earliest ideas that laid the foundation of Darwin’s theory to the modern scientific observations that continue to support it.
Introduction to Dinosaurs: for people in a hurry!
- Description: Dinosaurs have captivated the imaginations of people all over the world. They have starred in movies and books for over a century. This lecture is for people whom like dinosaurs, but do not understand or know the science behind what we know.
Geology on Demand:
The History of Geology
- Description: This is the story of how within only two hundred years we humans went from being simply our residence of our planet to students of its inner workings. From the Father of Geology James Hutton’s observation at Siccar point of uplifted and tiled beds to the canal digger and Father of English Geology William “Strata” Smith’s first stratigraphic map of England, Wales and southern Scotland.
Understanding the ten evidences of Plate Tectonics
- Description: The Theory of Plate Tectonics is the one unifying theory of Geology. This lecture reviews the steps taken to create it from Meteorologist Alfred Wegner’s Theory of Continental Driftto the many women and men whose research supported and defined it. As well as real world examples that we can observe in the world today.
Understanding Minerals: Nature’s treasures.
- Description: Minerals are naturally occurring, inorganic, solids that have repeating atomic structures. Humans have marveled at minerals throughout our entire history, yet most people do not know anything about them. This lecture is about how science defines and classifies minerals in a way that the casual observer will appreciate.
Rocks and Minerals of the Ancient World
- Description: This lecture first explains the different types of rocks and the geologic conditions in which they form. Then explains their distribution throughout the world. And finally focuses on the connections between the success the cultures of Ancient Egypt and the Americas in particular.
- More topics coming soon…
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History on Demand
The Kings and Queens of England
- Description: Although Kings and Queens are defined in cultures and governments, but every society has power consolidated in one person more or less. Whether they are called President, Prime Minister or locally Mayor, but no royal family has been as constant or more relevant than the British royal family. This lecture will go from right before the Battle of Hastings in the year 1066 until today and will focus on their themes of success.
The Architecture and Resources of Ancient Egypt
- Description: When people imagine Ancient Egypt they envision pyramids, temple and and stone cities. But how did they create such opulence in a deserts with Stone to Bronze Age tools? Well this lecture will answer these questions and more. As we look at the geologic conditions that have led to the culture we all know and love.
The Gods of Ancient Egypt
- Description: The Gods of Egypt were a cultural response to the natural events happening around the Ancients. Like many of their contemporaries there were just trying to make since of the natural order. Which begs the question-why are the Ancient Egyptian Gods some of the best know of the Ancient world. This lecture will not only go over the major and a few minor gods, but also track their relevance through the ages.
Group Talks on Demand
Becoming Jurassic James
- Description: Many parents and students alike ask how did I “get into” paleontology? The story of my youth and college experience is a blueprint of do’s and don’ts on how to navigate a out of the ordinary career path.
How to raise and encourage a future scientist
- Description: Everyone is born a scientist! That is why children ask so many questions, but somewhere along the way (around middle school) children forget or experience peer pressure that discourages learning and expression. This topic is for students and parents alike.
- More topics coming soon…
Not on the list? Contact me for more options!
Details:
- Duration varies between one and two hours.
- Options: PowerPoint Available depending on the topic.
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Dinosaur Toy Inaccuracy- What’s Up With That??
Images by: Ms. Corey Green With the exception of our feathered friends, dinosaurs are all but gone today. So what are the ways to connect to these long lost creatures? Well as a child I had three options, museums, media and models. Going to the Houston Museum of...
