IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Liz Carey
215/299-3790
PALEONTOLOGISTS TO GATHER AT DINOFEST(tm) SYMPOSIUM
The Academy of Natural Sciences Hosts Paleontological Symposium
PHILADELPHIA, PA - Paleontologists from around the world will assemble at the Philadelphia Civic Center from April 17 through April 19 to explore the world of the Mesozoic at the Dinofest Symposium, a component of Dinofest, "The World's Fair of Dinosaurs." Dinofest is being presented by The Academy of Natural Sciences at the Civic Center from March 27 to April 26.
Each day of the Symposium will begin with a mini-keynote address. Jere Lipps of the University of California-Berkeley will speak on "Dinosaurs and Trilobites, Monsters and Extraterrestrials -- Science and Pseudoscience in America" on April 17; Gerta Keller of Princeton University will discuss "The K/T Boundary Mass Extinction: Theories and Facts" on April 18; and on April 19 Adolf Seilacher of Yale University is to discuss "Lessons from the Past: Macroevolutionary Patterns Induced by Climatic Regimes and Catastrophic Events." Renowned Harvard paleontologist Stephen J. Gould will give the keynote address at the Civic Center on April 17 at 8:00 PM. A banquet, Dinofeast, will be held on Saturday, April 18 at 6:00 PM in the renovated Dinosaur Hall at The Academy of Natural Sciences.
In addition to these titles, over 115 papers by 111 researchers and educators are included in the Symposium. The presentations are arranged around specific themes, such as education, physiology, causes of extinction and dinosaur behavior. Recent discoveries in China of dinosaurs with what appears to be feathers has renewed the controversy about the relationship between birds and dinosaurs, and an entire day is devoted to this subject. This Symposium marks the first time sessions on dinosaur art have been part of a paleontological symposium, with an artists' round-table on Friday, April 17.
Dinofest is the largest exhibit of dinosaurs, fossils, robotics, minerals, amber and paleontological art ever assembled. Half-a-million people from throughout the country are expected to attend this event. Although not a traveling exhibit, Dinofest has been staged twice before, first in Indianapolis in 1994 and again in 1996 in Tempe.
Tickets for the Dinofest Symposium are available now at all Ticketmaster locations or by calling Charge-By-Phone at 1-800-736-1420. The cost is $75 for a one-day pass. A three-day pass is $200 and includes the keynote address and a program of abstracts. Admission to the Dinofest exhibits is incorporated into both passes. The keynote address costs $25 and a program of abstracts is $5. Student tickets to the Symposium are $25 per day and $15 for the keynote address. They are available ONLY at the Civic Center box office with a valid student I.D. during the Symposium.
Regular admission is $15 for adults; $10 for children 12 to 2; and free for children 2 and under. A $3 discount for seniors is available at the box office only. Call 1-888-229-1393 for school and group information. General admission and Symposium tickets are available at the Academy but cannot be purchased over the phone.
For more information about Dinofest, please visit our Web site at
http://www.dinofest.org.
The Academy of Natural Sciences, an international museum of natural history operating since 1812, undertakes research and public education that focus on the environment and its diverse species. The mission of the Academy is to expand knowledge of nature through discovery and to inspire stewardship of the environment.
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