Prof digs into dinosaur skulls

Venture through the maze of hallways that is the Veterinary School and you may happen upon the cluttered office suite of Anatomy and Geology Professor Peter Dodson. Dodson, the gross anatomy course director for the Vet School, is one of the foremost paleontologists in the country, according to many in his field. "He's very well known," Yale University Geology Professor John Ostrom said. "[He is] one of the most active, one of the most prolific, productive researchers in the industry." Dodson said his interest in dinosaurs started long before his student days. "Most little kids love dinosaurs," he said during a lecture last semester. "I guess I just never grew out of it." Most little kids, however, do not study dinosaur cranial decomposure. Dodson is currently studying how the skulls of horned dinosaurs changed over time. Much of Functional Morphology and Evolution, a book which he recently co-edited, is devoted to that subject. Although he recently presented the book to paleontologists and geologists, Dodson also spends his time speaking to smaller audiences, and recently visited a class at a local elementary school. "[Dinosaurs have] a particular appeal to children," he said as he sat among the skulls and bones in his fossil-filled office. "Exploiting their interest in dinosaurs is a really good way to teach science." Despite the general recent popularity of dinosaurs, however, funding for paleontological research is not at a high enough level, Dodson said. "In 1981, we needed $5,000 to work with these fossils that were found in Montana," he said. "We raised it dollar by dollar by selling dinosaur [shaped] cookies for $1 each." After the money was raised, Dodson identified and named a new dinosaur, Avaceratops lammersi. Dodson is also known for publishing a number of other books. "He is the author of a very well known book," Ostrom said. "His book, [Dinosauria], is the standard expert textbook in the field. There is none like it." The Geo-Science Information Society gave Dodson the 1990 "Best Geo-Science Reference Book" award for Dinosauria. Dodson does find time to spend on slightly less ancient causes, like the University. He is the Faculty Senate secretary, a position he will be leaving shortly. Faculty Senate Chairperson David Hildebrand said that Dodson has been an asset to the Faculty Senate. "The guy is a pro -- he's thoughtful, articulate, and he cares about the University," he said.

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