Lecture: Digging for dinosaurs

Find out how to discover your own dinosaur.

A Queensland sheep farmer, David Elliott, who made one of the most significant discoveries of Australian history, alongside paleontologist Scott Hocknull of the Queensland Museum will present the 2009 Australian Geographic Society Digging for Dinosaurs lecture at the Queensland Museum on Tuesday July 28th.

Digging for Dinosaurs will enable both David Elliot and Scott Hocknull to present these scientific discoveries to a non technical audience, for the first time.

David Elliot discovered the largest known dinosaur bones of Australia when he was mustering sheep on his farm in Winton, Queensland in 1999. Since that time Elliott has worked closely with the Queensland Museum to create the newly established, Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History.

Joining Elliott is vertebrate paleontologist and curator in geology at the Queensland Museum, Scott Hocknull. Hocknull was named the Young Australian of the year in 2002, due to his commitment and contributions to science.

The dinosaur bones which Elliot found are known as Titanosaurs, which are plant-eating dinosaurs with extremely long necks and tails, enormous bodies and elephant-like legs.   They are the largest dinosaur bones ever discovered within Australia and are said to be almost 100 million years old.

Palaeontologists believe the dinosaurs arrived in Australia when it was part of the giant land mass, known as Gondwanaland, as titanosaurs have been found in rocks of similar ages in both South America and North Africa.

The evening will include a presentation from both Elliot and Hocknull who have dedicated their lives to providing the missing pieces of the puzzle to the dichotomy between prehistoric imagination and information.

The Australian Geographic is committed to supporting scientific research, protecting and fostering a love for the environment and natural heritage, encouraging the spirit of discovery and adventure and spreading knowledge of Australia to Australians and the world.  The Australian Geographic Society is a non-profit organisation. Over the past 20 years, the Society has sponsored more than 1500 individuals and organisations.

WHEN July 28, 6.30pm
WHERE Queensland Museum’s South Bank Theatre
PRICE $10 for AG, AAOD and QM Members; $15 for Non-Members.

Presented by The Australian Geographic Society in conjunction with Queensland Museum. 

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* A small fee applies for bookings made online. For further information on these events please contact the Society administrator.