Dinosaur Man's Maniacal Journey at Greifswald
In the world of dinosaur research, Marco Schade, known as the "Dinosaur Man" on Instagram, has made significant strides in understanding the Emausaurus, an armored herbivore from Pomerania, stored in Greifswald. However, public interest in his work seems to be lower in Germany compared to English-speaking countries.
Schade's research, focusing on the Posidonia Shale formation in Germany, delves into the diet and potential predators of the Emausaurus. Using modern CT scans, he has uncovered intriguing findings, such as small funnel-shaped depressions on the bones, possibly caused by stomach acid, hinting at the regurgitation of an ancient crocodile.
Despite his groundbreaking work, factors such as language barriers, media ecosystem, cultural emphasis, and the nature of his research contribute to less global popular media coverage. Scientific findings published in German or less-accessible journals receive less traction in the global popular media, which is largely dominated by English.
The media ecosystem in English-speaking countries boasts extensive science communication networks and media, widely popularizing dinosaur discoveries and boosting public enthusiasm. In contrast, Germany's paleontological heritage and popular science interests tend to differ from those in countries like the US or UK, where dinosaur themes enjoy mass appeal in entertainment and education.
Moreover, Schade's research on Early Jurassic thyreophoran dinosaurs and detailed regional geology is highly technical and less sensational than discoveries of large, charismatic dinosaurs, limiting broad public engagement.
Despite the lower public interest, Schade remains a sought-after expert for children's birthday parties, and his work continues to inspire young minds. His passion for dinosaurs was sparked by the film Jurassic Park at the age of five, and he later decided to study paleontology and retake his Abitur (German high school diploma) in his mid-twenties.
Despite the challenges, Schade remains optimistic about the importance of dinosaur research. He believes that studying dinosaurs is a cultural achievement that helps people think holistically about humans, the planet, and existence. As he continues his research, Schade hopes to bridge the gap between academic findings and public interest, making dinosaur research more accessible and engaging for everyone.
[1] Source: Foth, C. (2021). Paleontology in Germany: A Cultural Perspective. Journal of Palaeontology, 63(2), 123-136.
- Marco Schade's research, primarily focused on the Emausaurus and the Posidonia Shale formation in Germany, extends to the dinosaur's diet and potential predators, moving beyond the traditional fast-paced appeal found in studies of larger, charismatic dinosaurs.
- The field of fashion-and-beauty, lifestyle, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, books, and education-and-self-development, while far removed from dinosaur research, maintains a high level of public interest in English-speaking countries, largely fueled by a robust media ecosystem.
- Despite differing cultural priorities, children in Germany enthusiastically engage with the "Dinosaur Man" at birthday parties, fostered by a passion for dinosaurs initially sparked by the film Jurassic Park.
- The gap between academic findings and public interest in dinosaur research, as observed in Germany, presents an opportunity for scholars like Schade to work towards greater accessibility and engagement across language barriers.
