Scientific Mentors and Advisors
It is one of my deepest beliefs that everyone should have a mentor or a team of mentors. A person(s) that that are doing what want to do and can show you the way. These are some of the scientist and educators that helped make Jurassic James.
I first met the late great Prof. Tom Hobbs at Lone Star College: North Harris. I took Historical Geology for my second science credit for my Associates degree. After passing his class with an A, I asked him if there was anyway I could help him. He hired me right on the spot as a Geology, Lab Assistant, Geology Tutor and referred me to the Supplimental Instructor (SI) Program. After five yeas of working by his side I learned that my strength was Science Education. He was my Obi Wan Kenobi, I found this article about him here.
Dr. Robert T. Bakker is the Master Yoda of Paleontology. I first learned of him as a child watching dinosaur documentaries and dug with him in 2013. The image is of the day I was able to show him my 39.5 foot long Cenozoic Mammal Chart.
David Temple (left) is the Curator of Paleontology for the Houston Museum of Natural Science. I first met him in 2008 as Geology Club President on a fieldtrip to the museum. Since then we have become friends and I have been fortunate to dig with him on many occations.
Chris Flis is the Director of the Whiteside Museum of Natural History in Seymour, Texas. The Synapsids of the Early Permian Period found in the “Texas Red Beds” are his primary focus. He has graciously invited me to Seymour to dig whenever I can.
Sam Stubbs is a retired lawyer and avid Trilobe collector. I first met him in 2015 when he first saw my private education collection and took an interest my mission. Since then we have become friends and he a willing polymath advisor.
Peter Lars Larson is a paleontologist and the Director of the Black Hills Institute of Geological Research. I dug with him (August 2017 and July 2022) and got to tour the BHI’s fossil casting methods.
Dr. Lawrence (Larry) Whitmer is a Professor of Anatomy and a Chang Ying-Chein Professor of Paleontology at the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine in Ohio University.
Dr. Donald Ross Prothero is a geologist, paleontologist, science writer and lecturer. The book Life After Dinosaurs (I am holding) was what I based my Cenozoic Mammal chart on.
Dr. Richard A. Fortey is British paleontologist and natural historian. He is best known for being a Trilobite expert. I met him, after a lecture at HMNS and had dinner with him thanks to Sam Stubbs.
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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...
