Flinders University Palaeontology and the Palaeontology Society hosted the annual Wells Lecture on Friday 18 October with guest presenter Professor Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan from the University of Cape Town in South Africa.

Professor Chinsamy-Turan is the world’s leading expert in the microscopic analysis of fossil bone and an award winning scientist, with more than 100 publications, including papers in the prestigious science journal Nature and several prize-winning popular scientific books.

Her research has advanced understanding of evolution, adaptations and the history of dinosaurs, pterosaurs and early mammals.

The Wells Lecture focused on how experimental studies of modern vertebrates show that bone tissue is highly responsive to its environment.

Professor Chinsamy-Turan explained how the microanatomy of bone can be preserved in fossilised remains for hundreds of millions of years, allowing us to learn about aspects of the biology of extinct species that would otherwise never be understood.

The presentation was followed by a reception with the palaeontology community, students and alumni, which raised more than  $3,000 for the James Moore Memorial Prize – an annual award for school students to participate in an expedition with Flinders palaeontologists.

James Moore (BSc ’12) was a researcher in Flinders Palaeontology Lab with a passion for learning about the remains of prehistoric creatures.

He passed away suddenly in 2014 at just 24 years of age. The James Moore Memorial Fund was established at Flinders University with the support of James’ family to honour his life. Find out more about the fund here.

Photos from the event can be viewed here: https://www.flinders.edu.au/alumni/our-alumni/event-galleries/2019-annual-wells-lecture