Beyond the Dinosaur Mystique

Dinosaurs are ubiquitous: from the front page of The New York Times to Esprit fashions, they are making an indelible impression on the public's imagination. But the enormous exposure dinosaurs receive brings with it some troubling concerns. Scientifically, the study of dinosaurs is prospering as never before. New dinosaurs are being described at the rate of one every seven weeks: more than 40 percent of all dinosaurs that we recognize today have been described since 1970. Dinosaur studies were singled out as one of the intellectual standard bearers for all of vertebrate paleontology during the past decade. Three of the first seven Romer Prizes of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology were awarded to students of dinosaurs. Dinosaur paleontologists are working in many disciplines in order to understand dinosaur behavior, ecology and evolutionary diversity. One of the fundamental debates in contemporary dinosaur paleontology involves the impact of cladistics on understanding the relationships of dinosaurs. Indeed, the very concept of dinosaur is now under examination. Additionally, the fossil record of dinosaurs is playing a pivotal role in the controversies over the causes of mass extinction. Unfortunately, the hard questions and difficult issues underlying current dinosaur research are usually not covered by the popular press. Although individual dinosaurs have reached celebrity status, the public's general image of dinosaurs is biased and deficient. The press parades the same ideas and the same personalities before its public. In the relentless pursuit of a story, writers make repeated and overblown claims of novel ideas and new discoveries, which are presented uncritically. Substantive scientific issues in dinosaur paleontology remain unexplored, and dinosaurs remain steeped in myth. Moreover, scientists relying on the press for understanding neighboring fields also may have an inadequate appreciation of dinosaur paleontology. Now widely accepted, this mystique surrounding dinosaur research has created a negative image of dinosaur workers, an image that has had significant impact on employment opportunities and funding agencies. As recently as 1980, it was estimated that the average annual research expenditure on dinosaurs in the United States and Canada combined was $150,000! The figure is probably twice that today, but the fact remains that funding agencies (the National Geographic Society is a welcome exception) have been extremely reluctant to support dinosaur studies. Natural history museums also make a strong statement to the public. By displaying dinosaurs with great prominence, museums are perceived as storehouses of fossils, and their staff members as legitimate spokespersons for their interpretation. Curation and preservation of fossils are central to a museum's function: who could conceive of North American dinosaur paleontology without the collections of Yale's Peabody Museum or the American Museum of Natural History in New York? But with one noteworthy exception, the established museums of natural history in this country do not include dinosaur paleontologists ono their staffs. These very museums, however, aggressively represent themselves as authoritative resources. If the public, the press included, wants to find dinosaur paleontologists, it must look elsewhere. The renaissance in dinosaur studies has occurred in spite of public and academic support, not because of it. But the American public continues to care deeply about dinosaurs. To nurture this concern, dinosaur paleontologists must learn to act as both scientists and critics. Working in concert, dinosaur paleontologists and the press should strive to construct a more accurate view of a complex and important subject. The scientific journalism of Pat Shipman (in Discover magazine) and John Noble Wilford (in his book The Riddle of the Dinosaur), to mention two recent examples, is a good beginning. Their recent writings on dinosaurs demonstrate the possibility of responsible scientific reporting. Natural history museums are more than mere display cases and warehouses for mute monoliths: they are conservators of priceless natural resources, including dinosaurs. The popularity of dinosaurs, however, makes them valuable financial property as well. It is time for museums to expand their policy on dinosaurs from one of simple exploitation to one that makes a return on the public's trust. Therefore, the creative use of a museum's collections, and the responsible education of its public become complementary components of a museum's conservation ethic. How can this be accomplished if dinosaur paleontologists are elsewhere? Dinosaurs provide a unique opportunity to educate the public about paleontology in particular, and about how science works in general. Dinosaur paleontologists can and should be allowed to add their voices to the dialogue. It is time to move beyond the mystique. Hammond is a senior editor of the zoology group at the Biosciences Information Service, 2100 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA 19103. Dodson is associate professor of anatomy at the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3800 Spruce St., Philadelphia, PA 19104.

Beyond the Dinosaur Mystique

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